Coventry City have been dealt a significant injury blow with the news that in-form Ephron Mason-Clark will be out for a number of “weeks” with a hamstring strain suffered against Plymouth on Boxing Day.
The left winger was sorely missed against Millwall as the Sky Blues played out a frustrating goalless draw at the CBS Arena, creating just six attempts on goal and only one effort on target in front of another bumper festive crowd of 28,216. Leading scorer Haji Wright, meanwhile, remains sidelined with an ankle injury, having missed the last nine matches.
Asked if his team are missing the two attacking players at this moment in time, Lampard said: “Yeah, I mean I haven’t worked with Haji and I am really keen for him to be back fit because of his qualities. I know them. And with Ephron out as well, that’s two big attacking players. It’s the balance of the team.
“And with Ephron, who has been giving us really good width and a real threat from the side of the pitch and arriving centrally, obviously, for his goals. So you’re clearly going to be affected by that but we have to take that and find the right balance. Players that come in have to try and help us to keep moving in a forward direction. It does happen and it is what it is.”
Asked how Wright and Mason-Clark are doing with their respective injuries, the City boss said: “Well, Haji is hopefully back on the training pitch with us in early January. But we have to be careful because it was a difficult injury.
“And then with Ephron, it’s a hamstring, so we’re looking at weeks. He felt the tweak of his hamstring (against Plymouth). It’s not a major, major hamstring, but it’s a hamstring so we’ll have to manage it.”
Asked if he has any idea how many weeks, he added: “No and I’m always at pains to say that because sometimes they can be longer. You have to treat the player and how he goes over the next few weeks, but he’s an explosive player and these can be injuries that happen with wingers.
“We’re trying to increase the robust nature of the squad, we’re trying to up our physical capacities and, you know, when those things happen someone has to come in and step up.”
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