Coventry City

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City will have captain Ben Sheaf and midfielder Jack Rudoni back to face Sheffield United in the Championship on Friday night but Josh Eccles will miss the game at Bramall Lane.

Sheaf returns after being out injured for the past two games while Rudoni has missed three matches having dislocated his shoulder in the 3-2 win at Oxford at the start of this month.

"Rudy and Sheafy should both be in the squad to travel so that's good but we understand it's a tough game we're going into," Coventry head coach Frank Lampard told BBC CWR.

Lampard revealed midfielder Josh Eccles picked up an injury before the international break and will not feature against Sheffield United but the City boss did not disclose the nature of the problem.

Coventry go into the game in fifth position in the Championship, two points inside the play-off places.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says he has "an enormous amount of respect" for "class act" Coventry City boss Frank Lampard as the Blades prepare to host the Sky Blues on Friday (20:00 GMT).

After a difficult start to the season under Mark Robins, the Sky Blues have flourished under Lampard to reach the play off places and have won six of their past seven league games.

"I just love the fact that he loves football and it shines through that he does, whatever job he takes," Wilder said.

"People are critical of him and I just don't get it. He could quite easily manage England in my opinion.

"It's proving to be an inspired choice of manager."

However, Lampard is not Coventry's only strength according to Wilder.

"Coventry City have arguably one of the best groups of players in this division and that's being shown now," the Blades boss added.

"They are steaming through everybody so we understand the challenges of what they bring.

"Their support is amazing. It's a real powerful football club, good manager and real strong set of talented footballers so this is a major test for us on Friday night."

The Blades have been boosted by the returns of Vini Souza, Alfie Gilchrist and Jamie Shackleton to training.

However, while Harry Clarke and Tom Davies "are making good progress", they are not expected to return to the grass for a further "week to 10 days".

Listen to the full pre-match press conference and more on the Football Heaven podcast.

Sheffield United host the in-form Coventry City for a chance to go top of the table on Friday (20:00 GMT).

The Blades are level on points with league leaders Leeds but with a large gulf in goal difference separating the two, while Burnley hover just two points below the automatic promotion line.

Though Coventry will likely be difficult foes to overcome if the Blades are to reach the apex once again this season, with the Sky Blues only conceding one loss in their past seven league games (W6).

• Sheffield United are unbeaten across their last six home league games against Coventry City (W4 D2), since a 2-1 defeat at Bramall Lane in February 2013.

• Coventry City have won two of their last four league games against Sheffield United (D1 L1), as many victories as across their prior eight meetings with the Blades (D2 L4).

• Sheffield United have lost just two of their last 13 league games (W10 D1), though both defeats during that time came at Bramall Lane.

• Coventry have won four of their last five away league games (L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories. They did lose their last away match 2-0 against Derby County, however.

• Coventry will be looking to win away to both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday in the same season for the first time in club history.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City forward Norman Bassette scored his first goals for Belgium's under-21 side as they beat Andorra 4-0 in their friendly on Sunday.

The 20-year-old scored the opening two goals either side of half-time as the Belgians ran out comfortable winners in Valencia.

It was Bassette's third under-21 appearance and he also has one full international cap having appeared in a Nations League defeat by Israel in November 2024.

Bassette has scored two goals in 11 Championship starts for Coventry this season and will hope to be involved at Sheffield United on Friday having been an unused substitute in their 3-0 victory over Sunderland before the international break.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales boss Craig Bellamy has singled out Coventry City midfielder Kai Andrews as a player with "high potential" and hopes international duty will help develop the teenager.

Having rose through the Sky Blues youth ranks, Andrews earned his maiden call-up to Wales' senior team after impressing during his current loan spell with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.

Andrews, who is yet to start for Coventry, has made seven appearances for Motherwell since moving on a temporary basis in January.

"I feel as a country we've done well at that over a number of years. We've identified the players and been able to bring them in at a young age," Bellamy told BBC Radio Wales.

"But use them in the right manner to allow them to develop in an international set-up as much as we can, because it's how they develop at their clubs that gives us that type of player."

Bellamy is particularly hopeful that Swansea City veteran Joe Allen will leave a lasting impression on the 18-year old.

"My first thought was to speak to Joe and say we've got a young kid coming in who we believe has got an opportunity to become a real top player and we need you to become his mentor," Bellamy added.

"He needs to see what elite is and I'm sure he has at his club and I'm sure he has where he's on loan at Motherwell, but with Joe you have a really good example.

"Hopefully we're going to see over the next year or so one top elite player passing the baton to another and if he has half the career Joe Allen has then he'll be a huge asset for us."

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Coventry City striker Haji Wright said he is just happy to be back playing after scoring his first hat-trick for the club in Saturday's 3-0 victory against Sunderland.

Wright, making his first home start under head coach Frank Lampard after missing almost four months with an ankle ligament injury, took his Championship goal tally for the season to 10 as the Sky Blues boosted their play-off bid.

"I wouldn't say I was anxious but I was just kind of itching to play after so long," Wright told BBC Radio CWR.

"I felt great out there. After being out for so long, I felt fresh and light on my feet.

"I've been on two [goals] a couple of times now for the club. I'm just happy now to finally get the third one."

Wright, Coventry's record transfer purchase in 2023, also said the time spent on the sidelines meant he did not have a personal target of goals in mind with eight matches of the regular season remaining.

"After missing more than half the season, it's kind of difficult to gauge how you'll come back and when and where it'll kick off again," the 26-year-old added.

Image source, PA Media

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard spoke to BBC CWR after Haji Wright's hat-trick earned the Sky Blues a 3-0 win against Sunderland.

"From the first minute the players were really at it in every sense, both on and off the ball. They moved the ball quickly and moved it well," Lampard said.

"They got a lot of control early on, played the game in their half a lot and counter pressed really well when we lost the ball. We were fast, really fast today.

"And we got the goals that we deserved. Even in the second half we continued, so it was a very complete performance.

"I hadn't seen Haji [before his recent return from injury], all I knew is what he had done here before, so I was excited to get him back. And for him to play this level of game today, and show what he did was really impressive.

"It was an outstanding individual performance from him."

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City have to brush off any setbacks in their pursuit of a Championship play-off place, according to head coach Frank Lampard.

The Sky Blues have pushed themselves into sixth position in the table after a fine run but their five-game winning streak came to an end in a 2-0 loss at Derby on Tuesday.

"It happens in football, we've been on an amazing run and it's important we realise what we've been doing," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"I've been in this situation, specifically in the Championship, played a lot of years and managed in the Premier League, the Champions League - you take hits along the way and being robust in these moments is par for the course."

Coventry were just one point above the relegation zone when the former Chelsea boss took over in November and he admits their progress has surprised even him.

"I'd have settled to be in the top 12 when I came in," added Lampard, whose side face fourth-placed Sunderland on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"That's where we were looking so to get to where we are is a great thing and we have to reset a little with our mindset and thought process.

"Will we stay in the play-offs all the way to the end? Who knows, maybe not, but can we keep fighting to get in there? For sure."

Play off contenders Coventry City and Sunderland meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT) for three huge points at the top end of the table.

The visitors are a healthy three points clear of the Sky Blues in sixth, but are seven adrift of the top two and are looking to end the season strong.

While Coventry conceded a shock defeat to relegation-threatened Derby County last time out to see their five-game winning streak come to an end.

The loss has put them in striking distance of Bristol City and Middlesbrough, with the Robins having the chance to go ahead on Friday.

• The last nine league meetings between Coventry and Sunderland have alternated between a draw and a victory for Coventry; the game earlier this season ended 2-2.

• Sunderland are winless in their last 11 league visits to Coventry (D5 L6); their last win on the road against the Sky Blues came at Highfield Road in April 1985 in the top-flight.

• Coventry City have won seven of their last nine home league matches (D1 L1), winning each of their last three in a row. They last had a longer home winning run between May and October 2021 (seven wins).

• Sunderland have won three of their last four away league games (L1), as many as they won in their previous 12 away games combined (W3 D5 L4).

• Bobby Thomas has scored in each of his last three home league appearances for Coventry, scoring three times in total. He'd only scored twice in his first 35 games at the Coventry Building Society Arena for the Sky Blues.

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Coventry City's most recent match-winner Bobby Thomas says they're "not doing much wrong" at the moment as the club's surge towards securing a play-off place continues on Tuesday against Derby County [19:45 KO].

Thomas' 97th-minute goal gave the in-form Sky Blues a dramatic 3-2 win over old boss Mark Robins' Stoke City as his replacement at Coventry - Frank Lampard - continues to engineer a top-six finish.

Victory over the Potters took Coventry's superb run to five wins in a row and nine in their last 10 league games - the first time the club have ever achieved that in a league season.

"We're on a good run at the moment and as long as we keep grinding the wins out when we're not at our best, that's really important," Thomas told BBC CWR.

"Everyone's desperate [to keep it going] but we don't want to get hung up on it.

"If we can just crack on with what we're doing - we don't seem to be doing much wrong. We need to tidy up in a few areas and take games away from the opposition."

As the Championship season enters its last 10 games, another win for Coventry against the Rams could take them six points clear of the pack chasing the play-off spots.

Thomas says there is not one thing that Lampard has changed to trigger their run, adding it feels like the team have just "gelled".

"There's nothing you can put your finger on really, but whatever it is, it's working and long may it continue," he said.

Derby County welcome Coventry City on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT) for a meeting between two sides with different ambitions at each end of the Championship table.

The Rams are desperately battling to stay up and are four points adrift of safety in 22nd after ending a 12-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Sky Blues are the form team in the division, winning nine of their past 10 games to lift themselves to fifth and three points ahead of Bristol City in seventh as they push for a play-off berth.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in November, Derby County will be looking to record a first league double over Coventry City since the 2009-10 season.

• Coventry City have failed to win any of their past nine away league games against Derby County (D6 L3), since a 3-1 victory in October 2003.

• Derby are winless in their previous three midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D1 L2), failing to score in both of the previous two.

• Coventry have won each of their past four away league games; only in December 2012 in the third tier have the Sky Blues enjoyed a longer winning run on their travels in the EFL (six games).

• Coventry have only lost two of their past 18 away league games against newly promoted opposition (W11 D5), a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich last season and 4-1 loss to Portsmouth this term.

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Small margins are often referred to in football when it comes the difference between success and failure - so could sleep be one of the many factors behind Coventry City's recent joy?

Coventry are on an excellent run in the Championship and pushing for a play-off place after nine wins from their past 10 games propelled them to fifth in the table.

Sleep expert James Wilson has been working with two professional clubs in England this season and one of those is the Sky Blues, the other Premier League side Brentford.

Wilson, who also worked with West Ham United in the 2022-23 season when they won the Europa Conference League, says all the clubs he's assisted have been "relatively successful".

"It is helping players, helping their partners, if they've got kids and then simple things like when they are travelling away," Wilson told BBC CWR's Sky Blues Fancast.

"When they have to stay in a hotel before a game, we're talking about how do you make that environment feel a bit more safe and a bit more inviting?

"Because it normally takes us three days to get used to a new sleep environment.

"For example, we recommend to any athlete I work with, or anybody, if you're sleeping away from home, take the smell of someone you love.

"You might take your partner's aftershave or perfume so [it's like] the person you love is there. It makes you feel more emotionally secure.

"Often when we feel emotionally secure, we're more likely to sleep well."

Wilson added that it's "often the culture of the club itself accepting something like sleep" is an important part of being successful.

Listen to James Wilson's full interview on the Sky Blues Fancast on BBC Sounds