Coventry 'crying out' for experience in the market

What do Coventry need?

It's been obvious since the early part of the season that the team is lacking experience and leadership. At 32, Ben Wilson isn't first choice, or at time of writing, a fit goalkeeper, and yet he's the oldest member of the squad.

Left-back Jake Bidwell is seven months younger, at 31, but due to injury and form, hasn't been an automatic selection either. They are crying out for at least one 30-something at the back and in central midfield.

Are they likely to do any business?

See above, plus the need to utilise Frank Lampard's contacts book to shoehorn one or two hungry loan players into his squad, which head of recruitment Dean Austin was reluctant to facilitate under Mark Robins.

The squad does need a refresh, and there's no way Lampard would have taken the job if owner/chairman Doug King hadn't agreed that he could put his own stamp on things.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

It was largely regarded as club policy that strengthening in January was to be resisted, due to a perceived lack of value, although signing Danish midfielder Victor Torp for £2m last January was an exception to that stance.

He started with a fabulous flourish, but injury blunted his effectiveness, and is only now starting to get proper, regular football again.

Arguably, a bigger loss last January was iconic centre-back Kyle McFadzean, whose influence around the players, rather than actual game minutes, certainly hasn't been effectively replaced.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

There will certainly need to be a degree of churn to regulate the wage bill, offsetting any arrivals with the odd departure or two.

Glancing down the squad list, the likes of Fabio Tavares and Liam Kitching seem surplus to requirements, while fans have been suggesting trying to offload centre-forward Ellis Simms, and even possibly Ben Sheaf, to generate some spending money.

The club captain has 18 months left on his contract, but hasn't scaled the heights of previous seasons.

How key is the window?

Under Robins in recent years, the Sky Blues were slow starters, but saved their best form for the second half of the season. They made the play-off final in 2023, despite a poor start, and for all that the run to the FA Cup semi-final last season was memorable, physically and mentally it took its toll on the players, which ultimately cost them.

It's still very early days for Lampard, but he'll be targeting at least a top-half finish, to give everyone some fresh impetus to take into next season.