Coventry City defender Cyrus Christie looks set to start the FA Cup First Round cup tie at AFC Wimbledon tonight.
Christie was injured during the 3-1 win over Leighton Orient in October and it was initially feared he would be out for more than a month with an ankle injury, but it turned out to be less serious than first thought.
Three players the City boss Steven Pressley will be without are John Fleck, who picked up a yellow card last Saturday and will now serve a one match suspension, and on loan striker Jamar Loza, Norwich City, his parent club don’t want him cup tied and Billy Daniels who won’t be risked until he has fully recovered from his hernia operation.
Pressley told reporters, “Cyrus has been one of our best performers and outstanding for me since I have come to the club, and a big player in the relative success we’ve had so he’s likely to figure in the starting line-up.”
In Fleck’s absence, Adam Barton is the likely replacement and he will probably start the game for once in his preferred central midfield position.
“Adam is a player I rate extremely highly and he’s been patiently waiting in the wings, so this is his chance and I am sure he’ll show everyone what a good player he is,” said Pressley.
“He hasn’t been missing out because of bad performances; he’s been missing out because of great performances of the two in the side.”
Pressley explained, “Billy trained yesterday but there’s a slight problem and the game might come too early.”
Two of Coventry City’s Academy graduates, 16 year old George Thomas and 17 year old Courtney Baker-Richards will be on the coach travelling to Wimbledon, but are not likely to start the game.
Pressley is keen to utilise his younger players and to give them experience. He sees potential in both of these two players and explained, “We’ve added a couple of young players, 16-year-old George Thomas and 17-year-old Courtney Baker-Richards, who come into the reckoning and it could be that 11 of the 18 players are Academy players, which is wonderful.
“They are both attacking players. Courtney is a big physical No.9 with good speed and young George can play off the right or the No.10 position, so both give us attacking options.”
For the telegraph story click http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/cyrus-christie-plus-another-two-6284136