COVENTRY City’s attacking options for Saturday’s crucial relegation ‘six-pointer’ against Swindon could be boosted by the return of the highly rated loan striker Charles Vernam, who was back in training today, we can reveal.
The 20-year-old, on loan from Championship club Derby County, was returned to his host club last month for treatment on a shoulder injury – following just one game for the Sky Blues at Northampton in late January.
It had been feared he would need an operation which could have put him out of contention for up to 12 weeks. But boss Russell Slade told us a fortnight ago the injury was as bad as first feared.
The the club confirmed with the Coventry Observer he was back from Derby and in training at Ryton for the first time today.
He is highly rated by Slade, and could play a part in the Sky Blues’ battle against the League One drop.
There is now strong competition for forward places, with Kwame Thomas and George Thomas coming to the fore, Stuart Beavon touted to make a return from injury, veteran Marcus Tudgay taking many plaudits for recent performances, and the signing of former Premier League star Yakubu, who has come off the bench in the last two games.
Despite being a striker, Vernam had to drop into midfield early in the disapponting 3-0 defeat at Northampton’s Sixfields, following defender Jordan Willis’s sending off.
He is on loan from Derby until the end of the season, and is contracted with The Rams until 2019, after reaching the first team squad and impressing for their under-23s.