Frank Lampard made no secret of the fact that he was looking forward to seeing Haji Wright back to full fitness for Coventry City.
The Sky Blues’ leading scorer suffered a serious ankle injury just two games before the new head coach was appointed as Mark Robins’ successor and has had to wait the best part of four months to see him in full flight in a City shirt.
And after breaking the USA international in gently with two cameo appearances off the bench against Oxford and Stoke, he was handed his first 90 minutes at Derby before announcing his return in style with a sensational hat-trick to sink Sunderland, and a performance that Lampard said he “loved”.
The City boss has had a huge impact on his inherited squad during the time Wright has been sidelined – a period in which several players have shown a marked improvement in output and form – with the coach taking time to get to know individuals and instilling confidence in them.
Asked about getting to know Wright while he was out injured, and how he’s found him in terms of his character, Lampard said: “He doesn’t say so much but that’s him, he’s laid back and a really nice lad. He comes to work and does everything you want and he’s enjoyable to work with.
“My players don’t need to say too much. Some do and some don’t. Haji has a laid back way, which is his nature, but he wasn’t laid back on the pitch against Sunderland. And I have to say the way he moved and way he won the penalty was high level stuff from him.”
He added: “I have enjoyed working with him. I have given him little bits of information but with a player of his talent, sometimes it’s the freedom you can have by him just doing what he did in the game.
“As long as he gets his off the ball work and transition work right, which he did (against Sunderland), I am happy. He can play like that, he can run into space, he can hold it up and he can move with it, so yes, I loved his performance.”
One criticism levelled at Wright earlier in the season was that he didn’t track back enough to help cover with defensive duties while playing out wide on the left. Since returning to fitness he’s been deployed as an either/or option with Ephron Mason-Clark, but by far his most effective display in a City shirt over his 18-months at the club came in a central striking role against the Black Cats.
Asked if he prefers Wright on left or through middle, Lampard said: “I think I haven’t worked with Haji long enough. I have got a good understanding of his attributes and I know his history of where he’s played for the club, but all managers maybe have different things that they demand, on and off the ball.
“So I have to consider those things but he’s certainly got the capability to do both roles. And at times it will be how it fits in the team and the other personnel around him. But there’s no coming away from the fact that he’s a really big player for this team and squad, so we’ll find the best for him to help the team.”
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