There is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for Coventry City’s injury problems. The Sky Blues have had more than their fair share of medical issues to key players so far this season, which certainly hasn’t helped in their quest to adapt to life without star man Gustavo Hamer.
But as Jamie Allen showed at the weekend, having influential players fit can have a major boost to the Sky Blues’ fortunes. Allen made his first start since suffering a summer heart scare and played his part in the 3-1 demolition job on Queens Park Rangers with his energy, vision and ability to get City counter attacking at pace.
Fans will now hoping that the return of Callum O’Hare in the coming weeks, along with the likes of Ben Sheaf, Kasey Palmer and Milan van Ewijk will have a similar impact and help turn what has been a stuttering start for Mark Robins’ men into a more encouraging campaign. Here we take a look at where each of them are and when supporters can expect them to be back in action.
READ MORE: Leaky Blackburn Rovers suffer injury blow to key position ahead of Coventry City test
Ben Sheaf
What’s he done?
The 25-year-old suffered an adductor strain in training following the Watford game, with an initial prognosis that he’d be out for a couple of weeks. However, after further investigation it was revealed that the influential Sky Blues player will be out until early November.
What’s been said?
“Ben is going to be out for a minimum of six weeks, which is a huge blow,” said the City manager, speaking on September 20, “because that was the one area where we didn’t really strengthen in the summer.”
When is he due back?
It’s unclear at this stage because although the prognosis was six weeks, Robins said at the weekend that “a couple” of his three injured players (when referring to Sheaf, Palmer and Van Ewijk) had made good progress and could actually be back sooner than first feared. He refused to specify which ones but given that Sheaf is almost halfway into his six-week recovery, he could well be one of them, albeit none are expected to be back for Wednesday’s Blackburn game.
Kasey Palmer
What’s he done?
The playmaker suffered the same adductor tear injury as Sheaf, believed to be in the 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City.
What’s been said?
“Kasey is injured and going to be out for six-eight weeks. He’s got an adductor tear and I don’t know when he did it. He’s done it in a game but I don’t know when.”
When is he due back?
The initial prognosis was six to eight weeks but, as mentioned above, Palmer is one of the three players whom the manager spoke about in positive terms in his pre-match press conference ahead of the QPR game. Providing an update, Robins said: “There are a few more positive signs. So I’m sort of hopeful on that. QPR is too soon for them but, certainly, from next week we may start to see one or two coming back.”
Milan van Ewijk
What’s he done?
The right wing-back suffered a torn quad muscle against Cardiff and, again, was given an initial timescale of six-eight weeks.
What’s been said?
“They are talking six-eight weeks for all three of them, so there’s the dilemma,” said Robins, talking collectively about Sheaf, Palmer and Van Ewijk. “If you lose three key players from the squad it causes you an issue. But we’re going to have to deal with it.”
When is he due back?
Again, he could be one of the ‘couple’ who could be back later this week ahead of the Norwich game. Interestingly, although the scan results shows a ‘significant’ tear in his quad, the Dutch player did not complain of any pain.
Callum O’Hare
What’s he done?
The exciting attacking midfielder suffered a ruptured ACL at Sheffield United on Boxing Day last year, putting him out for a minimum of nine months.
What’s been said?
“You’ve got to treat everybody as an individual and look around, look at their make-up and how they’ve been and what they’ve done. Callum has done a lot of work and he’ll be a different athlete when eventually makes his return, but it’s too soon,” said Robins.
When is he due back?
Although O’Hare has been back in full contact training for just over a fortnight, he is expected to be eased back in gently and will almost certainly need to get a couple of Under-21 games under his belt before making his way onto the bench and being re-introduced steadily.
Fabio Tavares
What’s he done?
The young striker ruptured his Achilles tendon in early January in the FA Cup defeat to Wrexham.
What’s been said?
“The original schedule was he’d be back at the end of September/early October but we have to wait to see how that progresses because it’s still early days.”
When is he due back?
He’s yet to return to the grass for full contact training so he’s some way behind O’Hare and it’s difficult to put a timescale on it.
