Coventry City predicted XI vs Stoke City as Frank Lampard has Mark Robins factor to consider

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Mark Robins returns to the CBS Arena for the first time this this weekend to take on his former side Coventry City, which sees Frank Lampard face the man he replaced.

He was appointed manager of Coventry eight years ago this week, where he would go on to lift the club from League Two and to within a penalty kick of promotion out of the Championship. In many ways, it’s going to be an unusual afternoon for all concerned when Mark Robins makes his first return.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	35	22	10	3	72	22	50	76
2	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	35	23	6	6	50	27	23	73
3	BurnleyBurnley	35	19	14	2	45	10	35	71
4	SunderlandSunderland	35	18	11	6	52	32	20	65
5	CoventryCoventry	35	15	8	12	49	44	5	53
6	West BromWest Brom	35	12	16	7	45	32	13	52
7	Bristol CityBristol City	35	13	13	9	45	38	7	52
8	BlackburnBlackburn	35	15	7	13	40	35	5	52
9	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	35	14	8	13	55	46	9	50

He was sacked by Doug King in November for not getting more out of the group of players his Stoke City side will be trying to beat to survive relegation from the Championship.

His successor, Frank Lampard, has been in excellent form so far; with Coventry having breaking 55-year long records against Oxford as well as former curses that haunted the Sky Blues against Preston.

• READ MORE: Bristol City become dark horses for promotion this season as they look to end decades-long exile from top flight

Coventry City team and injury news

Lampard has been without numerous players up until recently, with Jack Rudoni the latest to be hit with an issue. Lampard is hopeful that the key Coventry man will be back and available for selection after the international break.

The 23-year-old suffered what has been confirmed as a dislocated shoulder while scoring the opening goal against Oxford United. It’s a huge blow, as no player in the Coventry squad has contributed directly to more goals than Rudoni this season.

Meanwhile, Victor Torp, who is one of the midfielders who could fill the void left by Rudoni, has been back in full training for over a week. He can be deployed as more of an attack-minded midfielder, much like Rudoni, with other midfielders suited to deeper roles at the base of midfield.

That means Torp comes straight back into contention to face The Potters this weekend. He could be joined by key duo Ben Sheaf and Haji Wright after both made returns recently to full training and matchday squads for the Championship run-in.

An ankle injury had kept out Wright for the last three-and-a-half-months, but he may need time to build up fitness and sharpness before starting again. It’s a timely and huge boost at the business end of the season and with the play-offs in mind.

• READ MORE: Who will win the Championship Golden Boot race?

Coventry predicted XI vs Stoke City

There are a few changes that Lampard could and maybe should make for the Stoke City clash given their former manager’s knowledge of many players he signed for the club and with Robins knowing so many of Coventry’s weaknesses.

Aside from January signing Matt Grimes and free agent addition Jamie Paterson, Robins knows Lampard’s squad inside out, which puts the new Sky Blues boss on the back foot immediately.

However, confidence is high in the camp, with many players hitting their stride and performing well. That can be a difficult aspect to value and also to stop when it is coursing through so much of this side.

The head coach stuck with a winning team at the Kassam Stadium, following the previous week’s 2-1 victory over Preston, but is forced into at least one change this time around due to the injury to Rudoni.

Torp may be back in contention but, having sat out for three games with a calf issue, may not be ready to come straight back into the starting line-up.

Sheaf’s return next to Grimes is likely, which means it’s almost certain to be a 50/50 between Josh Eccles and Jamie Allen if Lampard is looking for a tried and trusted central midfield operator, with the energetic Eccles featuring the most recently.

Either that, or he will have to experiment with Ephron Mason-Clark or Tatsuhiro Sakamoto in a more central attacking role at some stage. We don’t think Lampard will be so risky against the Potters, given how influential his engine room has been of late with particular profiles involved,.

However, don’t be surprised to see that experiment tested at some point in the very near future, or even a front two that includes Wright and Ellis Simms, especially in some of the games coming up.

• READ MORE: The highest points tallies in Championship history: Can Leeds United or Sheffield United break the record this season?

Coventry team to face Stoke City:

Coventry line-up: Oliver Dovin; Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jake Bidwell; Ben Sheaf, Matt Grimes, Josh Eccles; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Ellis Simms, Ephron Mason-Clark.