Coventry City predicted team as Frank Lampard waits on fitness tests for injured duo v Derby
Coventry City predicted team as Frank Lampard waits on fitness tests for injured duo v Derby
Frank Lampard is hoping to guide Coventry City to their tenth win in 11 Championship matches when he makes his first return to Derby County where he started his managerial journey.
The Sky Blues boss is on track to emulate his first season in management when he guided the Rams to the play-off final back in 2019, and now all eyes are on his spell with Coventry to see if he can do the same, albeit go one better by actually securing promotion.
The City boss has injury doubts over winger Ephron Mason-Clark (toe) and right-back Milan van Ewijk (Achilles) after both players were forced to withdraw from Saturday’s 3-2 win over Stoke, meaning he could be forced into at least two changes.
Former Sky Blues captain and now manager of Derby, John Eustace, meanwhile, could be without as many as ten first teamers after his squad has been hit by a number of knocks and season-ending injuries. The Rams, however, are buoyed by their 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at the weekend which was the club’s first win in 13 long games – 10 of those being league defeats.
But turning attention to City’s selection, the obvious man to come in for Van Ewijk, should he fail to have recovered from his injury, is Joel Latibeaudiere – the man who filled in when the Dutch defender hobbled off at the weekend.
Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching are expected to continue their partnership at the heart of the back four behind goalkeeper Oliver Dovin while Jake Bidwell could return in place of Jay Dasilva if Lampard wants to freshen things up at left-back.
Matt Grimes is expected to continue in his impressive holding role with Josh Eccles and Victor Torp operating as eights in a 4-3-3 formation, although returning to a back three could be another way around Van Ewijk’s injury. City are blessed with plenty of midfield options at the minute in the continued absence of the influential Jack Rudoni, who is out with a dislocated shoulder, with Jamie Allen and skipper Ben Sheaf vying for starts.
A fully fit Haji Wright would be the ideal man to come in for Mason-Clark, if the former Peterborough star fails his fitness test, but he’s currently being eased back in with 16 minutes against Oxford and 24 against Stoke following four months out injured, and it’s unclear whether the USA international is ready to start a game yet.
Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jamie Paterson are both options to fill in on the left wing, with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto expected to continue on the right. That leaves Ellis Simms likely to continue to lead the line on a night when Norman Bassette could return to the matchday squad if one or both of Van Ewijk and Mason-Clark are unavailable.
Predicted City team v Derby: Oliver Dovin; Joel Latibeaudiere, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jake Bidwell; Josh Eccles, Matt Grimes, Victor Torp; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante.
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