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Davis Only Doubt
Davis Only Doubt
Friday, 1st Oct 2004 13:41

Town go into Sunday's live Sky game at Coventry (Sky Sports One, KO 1pm) with Kelvin Davis their only concern, the keeper having aggravated a back injury in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Reading. Lewis Price stands by to take over but Davis's condition has improved as the week has gone on.

The Blues have suffered no other injuries and it is likely they will line-up as they did against the Royals, with Fabian Wilnis sitting out the second game of his three-match suspension for his red card against Plymouth.

Shefki Kuqi will keep his place up front after scoring three goals in the last two games. The Finnish international is now the club's top scorer for the season with five goals.

Manager Joe Royle says that he has considered one other change in addition to the possible switch of keepers: "The goalkeeping situation is black and white - if Kelvin is fit he will play, otherwise Lewis Price will be in.

"But there is another area of the team that I am looking at. I'm not saying more than that at this stage.

"With Kelvin it's simply a question of whether he's right or not. We'll know more later today once he's done a bit more training."

Loan midfielder Tony Dinning's two-month spell with the Blues is up after Sunday's game and he will not be offered a permanent contract or a further month's extension. Manager Royle has given Dinning the choice whether he takes a place on the bench on Sunday or goes back to Wigan.

His departure is likely to see Royle look again for short-term cover in midfield where he has only four experienced players.

Teenagers Jerrome Sobers and Scott Barron are both in contention to be on the bench at Highfield Road.

Coventry boss Peter Reid is expected to reshuffle his side in the wake of a 4-1 at QPR in midweek.

Reid will recall former Arsenal and Everton man Stephen Hughes after injury, while changes are expected in the defence. Louis Carey is a doubt with a back injury, meaning 20-year-old Andrew Whing could take over.

Fellow defender Matthew Mills, an 18-year-old loanee from Southampton, could be dropped after a difficult night at Loftus Road, although manager Reid is keen that he shouldn't be held responsible for all his side's recent losses: "I wouldn't lay any blame for defeats on him - everyone makes mistakes.

"You've got to give QPR credit because their finishing was fantastic on Tuesday. It's something I'm thinking about. The strikeforce with Ipswich are of a similar quality but I'm quite confident that if we put the lad in he'll do a job for us."

Definitely out of contention are Dean Leacock, on loan from Fulham, and Eric Deloumeaux, both of whom have hamstring problems. However, yet another loan player, striker Eddie Johnson from Manchester United, impressed in a behind-close-doors game earlier in the week and could be involved after missing the last five matches.

Reid says he is expecting a quality game: "Joe Royle is a big pal of mine and his team play great football. I've seen them once or twice and it will be very difficult but I'm looking forward to it.

"I think it will be an attractive football match as well because they like to play football. They can score goals with Kuqi and Bent up front. In the middle of the park, Magilton has been around for a long time and he can dictate a game. That's where it could be won or lost, and hopefully we can get [Tim] Sherwood, [Micky] Doyle and [Stephen] Hughes in there getting plenty of possession.

"They've got some good young players as well - Westlake comes to mind. Think of the young players that have come through there over the years who are now playing in the Premiership. They've always had that and they still do it now."

Sunday's referee is Clive Penton from Woodindean in Sussex. So far this season he has shown 30 yellow cards and two red in 11 matches. He has not previously refereed a Town game.

Town squad from: Davis, Price, Supple, Diallo, Richards, Barron, Naylor, De Vos, Sobers, Magilton, Horlock, Miller, Westlake, Dinning, Bent, Kuqi, Couñago, Bowditch.


Photo: Action Images



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