Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has confirmed Oliver Dovin has suffered an ACL injury with surgery planned.
Coventry City signed goalkeeper Oliver Dovin from IF Hammarby last summer, bringing him in as their new long-term number one.
The 22-year-old had impressed over in Sweden, breaking through at a young age and become a regular for his country at youth level. It marked a deserved switch and a necessary signing for the Sky Blues, who hadn’t had a nailed-on number one for some time.
It hasn’t been all plain sailing for Dovin this season but he had locked down the starting spot under Frank Lampard. As such, real concerns were raised when he was forced off in the first-half of last Friday’s defeat to Sheffield United.
Now, with Burnley up next this weekend, the Coventry City boss has confirmed their worst fears over Dovin’s blow.
Speaking to the media, Lampard confirmed that number one Dovin has suffered an ACL injury. Timescales are not something Lampard would expand on, but the London-born ‘keeper will undergo surgery and it certainly ends his season.
“So, he has got as we feared, an ACL injury which ends his season,” the Coventry City boss said.
“He is going to have surgery and we’re really disappointed for him.
“He is a really good lad; low maintenance and he has been brilliant in every sense,” Lampard later added.
“We spoke to him, and he understands it now and these things are obviously challenging for young players who want to play and want to do well, so we will all support him along the way.”
The long road back
Lampard didn’t dwell on how long Dovin could be out and ultimately, that will only become clearer once surgery is completed.
However, ACL injuries are long-term ones, so it will be some time before the ‘keeper dons Coventry City colours again. It will be hoped he can come through his rehabilitation smoothly once surgery is completed with the club sure to support him all the way.
It can take as little as seven months to recover from ACL injuries but with careful rehabilitation required, it can take as long as nine to 12 months. That could leave Dovin sidelined well into next season and potentially until 2026.
In his absence…
With Dovin sidelined, it means Coventry City goalkeepers Ben Wilson and Brad Collins will be battling for the starting berth once again.
Collins was preferred off the bench against Sheffield United and had a run in the team over November and December. Wilson played three Championship games earlier in the season and has 117 appearances for the club to his name.
Lampard will be sure to weigh up his options carefully and depending on how the stand-in fares, it could lead to an unplanned rethink in the goalkeeping department in the summer transfer window.
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