Frank Lampard has this message for Coventry City squad with key defender missing Sunderland game
Sunderland travel to Coventry City on Saturday in the Premier League.
Coventry boss Frank Lampard says his side need to adjust to the “different level” of the Premier League as they prepare for Saturday’s bottom-of-the-table clash with Sunderland.
The two sides meet at the Coventry Building Society Arena in a key early-season match, and a win for either team could kick-start their campaign and lift them out of the Premier League relegation zone. Sunderland ended a run of four successive defeats with a draw against Leeds last time out while Coventry have lost their last two matches, including a 1-0 defeat to Fulham last week.
Join the Echo’s WhatsApp SAFC Channel for the latest news, team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join.
The table has started to take shape and Coventry have been involved with many conversations when it comes to the relegation battle, but Lampard remains defiant.
He said: “It is early. We scored 97 goals last season. It’s a different level and a different challenge. It is harder to create here. “We can train, we can work, but, when you come up against good opposition, they make it very difficult for you.”
Key defender Bobby Thomas went off injured in last week’s defeat and will be a huge miss for the Sky Blues this weekend, but Lampard believes England Under-21 defender Stephen Mfuni has an opportunity to prove himself on Saturday. He added: “He has shown in the moments he’s played and around the building that he’s a fantastic young player. It’s an opportunity.”
What has Regis Le Bris said ahead of the game?
Régis Le Bris says he ‘more or less’ has a full squad available for Sunderland’s trip to Coventry City this weekend but Nordi Mukiele does remain a doubt.
Mukiele was forced off early in the second half against Leeds United with a throat problem after being struck by Luke O’Nien as the pair cleared a long ball. The Sunderland head coach says Mukiele does not have a serious injury but the extent of his involvement this weekend remains somewhat in doubt. “We'll see, because he got this knock,” Le Bris said. “It's a minor and short-term injury, but we'll see for Saturday.”
Le Bris confirmed on Wednesday night that Wilson Isidor had been back in training this week, and confirmed that he expected the striker to play some part in the game this weekend. Dan Ballard and Romaine Mundle are confirmed absentees.
Your next Sunderland AFC read: One return, two key doubts and five out: The Coventry City and Sunderland team and injury news