Opinion- Five Coventry City Players Who Could Still Leave
Although the transfer window for EFL clubs has closed until January, the window for clubs in the National League and below is still open. Who may the Sky Blues look to send out?
To be sure, Mark Robins’ club is now struggling with an injury crisis, with several first-team players out injured, including Ben Sheaf, Milan Van Ewijk, and Kasey Palmer, while long-term absentees Callum O’Hare and Fabio Tavares have yet to return.
Last season, Coventry City had multiple Non-League loans for parts of their U21s group, with players like Blakirk Rowe (Falkirk), Marco Rus (Hereford & Chorley), and Jay McGrath (St. Patricks Athletic) all having successful loan periods.
Having said that, there are still some members of the club’s U21s who might be loaned out or are at a point in their development where they must go out and play against men’s first-team football for the first time in their careers.
For this list, I decided to look at each player individually and have only chosen the five I believe are genuinely the most likely to leave the Sky Blues on loan between now and January, especially with the U21s taking a winter break in December.
Let’s have a look at the five players I’ve chosen…
Cian Tyler
Former Welsh youth international Cian Tyler is the first player to make the list in my opinion. The 6ft8 goalkeeper had a brief loan spell with National League North side Hereford last season but failed to feature as often as he’d have liked due to injury.
With the first team having three goalkeepers as well as youth goalkeepers Luke Bell and Charlie Callaghan, there is an open door for the Sky Blues to loan out Cian Tyler in a bid to give him some much-needed first-team minutes.
Dermi Lusala
Full-back Dermi Lusala was absent from Coventry’s recent U21s victory against Hull City, but could he follow in the footsteps of former teammate Blaine Rowe and head for a senior loan exit in a bid to earn some men’s first-team experience?
Lusala had a brief spell with Non-League side Barwell last season and the former Tottenham Hotspur man will be keen to earn a fifth or sixth tier loan move if the opportunity arose. With Coventry also using trialists so far, could this provide an option for Lusala to head out on loan?
Evan Eghosa
Moving into midfield, U21s playmaker Evan Eghosa is another player that could depart the Sky Blues on loan. The attacking midfielder featured heavily for the club’s first-team during pre-season and earned rave reviews from manager Mark Robins.
Eghosa has also recently signed his first professional contract with the Sky Blues and has been ever-present for the clubs U21s this season. However, could now be the perfect time to allow Eghosa to move out on loan to a National League North/South side and gain his first taste of mens first-team football.
Marco Rus
Marco Rus, possibly the most likely candidate on this list, has been pounding on the first-team door following impressive loan spells with Hereford and Chorley last season, as well as being named captain of the U21s.
Unfortunately for Rus, he injured himself during pre-season and was unable to participate in training or friendlies, forcing him to tumble down the pecking order. However, he has subsequently recovered to full fitness and has done enough to warrant a promotion to the National League, but will this be an option?
Kai Andrews
Finally, U21s striker Kai Andrews is another U21s player who could seek for a loan move in the coming weeks. Andrews played an important role in pre-season, missing only one friendly, and made his first-team debut last month in Coventry’s 3-0 win against Middlesbrough in the Championship.
Andrews has clearly gained the support of Mark Robins and the club’s officials by earning his first-team debut, but he still lacks men’s experience. With fellow U21s forward Justin Obikwu now a regular team member following Fabio Tavares’ injury, Andrews could leave on loan in the coming weeks.
