Frank Lampard has mixed injury news ahead of Coventry City’s trip to Sheffield United when he will welcome two players back to his match night squad while losing one to an injury that could keep the player out for a number of weeks.
The good news is that attacking midfielder Jack Rudoni and skipper Ben Sheaf are fit to travel to South Yorkshire as the Sky Blues look to continue their push for the Championship play-offs against a Blades side going all out for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
As for City’s latest injury setback, midfielder Josh Eccles has been ruled out of Friday’s 8pm kick-off at Bramall Lane with an unspecified issue.
“Josh has got an injury which he picked up just before the break, so he won’t be in the squad tomorrow,” said the City boss. Asked if it’s a long term problem, the head coach insisted: “No, hopefully it’s weeks.”
As for Rudoni, who is back from a dislocated shoulder that forced him to sit out the last three games, and Sheaf, who has missed the last two matchday squads with an unspecified issue, Lampard said: “I think Rudy and Sheafy should both be in the squad to travel. So that’s good. But we obviously understand it’s a very tough game we’re going into straight away.”
As to whether the pair have been back in training for the entirety of the international break or just joined in this week, Lampard explained: “A mixture. The first week we had some good rest and they were both here working. And then since we’ve been in more this week, the last four days they’ve been training with us.
“Their work has been slightly modified at points but they’ve been with us. So it’s for me to decide what to do with them, but I know how the squad and team looks.”
Asked if it will be a case of Rudoni having confidence in his shoulder, Lampard said: “Yes, I think it’s confidence, obviously, and it’s the actual issue, which is a dislocated shoulder.
“So he’s been very Rudi-esque in his recovery. He wants to get back out there, does everything in the gym, does everything with the physios and medical team. So he and Ben are very good professionals like that. And it’s their level of comfort. They’ve been comfortable enough to train and are available for selection.”
As for the only other currently injured player, striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, who has been out for the last two games with a pelvic issue, Lampard added: “Brandon hasn’t trained and we’re hoping he trains with us next week. His pelvic issue was slightly more problematic in the short term.
“He’s been carrying it for a little while. And to be fair to Brandon, he’s been training and playing well for us and has made a good impact. He just got to the point where he needed to step back a bit and be with the medical team more to deal with that, but hopefully he’ll be with us next week.”
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