Recently by Alan Poole

CHRIS COLEMAN is forced to field an understrength side in tonight's Ricoh Arena showcase against Premier League Newcastle United.

But the Sky Blues' boss is still hoping to plot a Carling Cup upset against his former Fulham manager, Kevin Keegan, and has already bolstered his midfield by switching hard man Aron Gunnarsson back to his preferred central role.

Marcus Hall looks likely to return to the side at left-back with Danny Fox switching to the right to cover for the injured Stephen Wright.

"I think this game would be ideal if we were going in full strength," said the City boss who confirmed that Wright (Achilles), striker Freddy Eastwood (groin) and goal-keeper Keiren Westwood (thumb) will all be missing tonight.

"With us playing a Premier League team in the cup in front of a big crowd, to take a scalp like that would give you a bit of confidence.

"On the other hand we are coming up against a good, strong team who have had a good start to their season and we have got to be careful that it doesn't turn into a thumping.

"We have lost 3-0 at home to Bristol City in a game full of incident and we are going into the Newcastle game under-strength and it is going to be a tough, tough game.

We are the under-dogs but there is always a chance of an upset.

"I am glad it has come round quickly after our first defeat of the season because it gives us the chance to put a good performance in ahead of Doncaster on Saturday.

"We want to put on a good show for the supporters and test Newcastle, and the pressure is on them."

COVENTRY CITY are licking their physical and mental wounds today as they prepare for their Carling Cup showpiece against Newcastle United.

Striker Freddy Eastwood and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood are set to miss tomorrow's tie at the Ricoh Arena while Steven Wright's Achilles problem means that midfielder Aron Gunnarsson will again be forced to plug the gap in the back four.

And, while he ponders his reduced tactical options, Chris Coleman admits he has to repair the psychological scars inflicted by the 3-0 home defeat against Bristol City that shattered the Sky Blues' 100-per-cent start to the season.

"We can't afford to feel sorry for ourselves," he insisted.

"Newcastle is a great draw for us and if we were going into it with a fit team, a full squad, we'd be thinking 'lovely!'

"Unfortunately at the minute I haven't got a clue who's going to be fit for the game.

"I'll field the strongest side I can but if they're on it and we're off it it will be a hammering and we don't want that because that can affect you for a while."

Coleman revealed: "Freddy hurt his groin in the first 10 minutes - we kept him on hoping it would get better but it didn't. Keiren has concussion and a dislocated thumb after the collision for the first goal which we felt was a free-kick.

"I don't know whether Steven Wright will be ready for Newcastle or Doncaster so we'll probably have to go in with Aron at right-back again.

"That's not ideal - you can get away with it once, perhaps twice, but you can't keep getting away with it and we missed him in the middle of the pitch.

"You want your best players fit, on the pitch in their right positions, so we might have to move for another right-back, possibly on loan."

CHRIS COLEMAN is expecting his toughest challenge of the season to date when pacesetting Sky Blues face Bristol City at the Ricoh Arena tomorrow.

But the Coventry boss has played down suggestions that it will be a needle match if, as expected, Michael Mifsud lines up against the side he seemed certain to join two weeks ago.

The collapse of the £1.5 million deal annoyed Coleman and infuriated opposite number Gary Johnson who blasted the Maltese striker's "unprofessional" behaviour.

But Coleman, poised to name a sameagain team against the Robins because of continuing concerns about Stephen Wright's Achilles tendon, insisted: "I hope it doesn't add an edge to the game if Michael starts - it shouldn't because for me that's all done and dusted.

"He will have to go into the game with a free mind and do a good job for the team like he did against Aldershot and Barnsley.

"He's got nothing to prove to anybody - he's just got to concentrate on helping us to get three points."

Teenager Aron Gunnarsson is set to retain his role as an emergency rightback, with Jay Tabb remaining in the centre of midfield and Mifsud continuing on the right wing.

MICHAEL DOYLE is determined to win back his place in the Coventry City midfield.

And the workaholic Irishman is confident that he is almost back to prime fitness after coming through Tuesday's full-scale practice match against Aston Villa unscathed.

Doyle put off two operations at the end of last season to play his part in the club's relegation battle.

The delayed surgery forced him to miss the start of the current campaign but now the 27-year-old is hoping to play a part in the Sky Blues' two home games in four days - Bristol City in the Championship on Saturday and Newcastle United in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

"I had a couple of problems last season and the specialist said I would need to get them sorted out," explained Doyle, "but I spoke to the management and we decided that I would delay the operations until we were safe from relegation.

"It never really worked out as it went right to the last day of the season - but to be honest the club needed every player at its disposal because of the situation we were in so I was happy to do that.

CHRIS COLEMAN has been given the all-clear to strengthen his Coventry City squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

City were forced to draft in teenager midfielder Aron Gunnarsson at rightback at Barnsley on Saturday when summer recruit Stephen Wright suffered an Achilles problem.

The last-minute reshuffle exposed a gap in the Sky Blues resources, Coleman admitting that while he has several options on the left he is short of right-flank options.

But chairman Ray Ranson has confirmed that cash is available if Coleman decides he needs reinforcements in that area.

"We speak on a daily basis discussing scenarios to improve the squad," he said.

"We are constantly reviewing the situation and there's a few names he's mentioned so we will have to see."

Ranson and Coleman are both keen to free up cash by shipping out players who have little chance of forcing their way into the current first team.

"We'd like to reduce the size of the squad," confirmed Ranson.

"The manager has said on numerous occasions that he wants to trim it down to the low 20s but with a lot more quality, so from that point of view we'd like to move a few on."

MARCUS HALL - Sky Blues' longest-serving player - is desperate to play a part in City's next two vital games at the Ricoh Arena.

The 32-year-old defender has missed the first three matches of the season after injuring his foot in training but is hoping to be fit for Saturday's Championship game against Bristol City on Saturday and the Carling Cup tie with Newcastle next Tuesday.

Hall is confident the Sky Blues will have a much improved season after struggling to establish themselves in the division in the seven years since relegation.

"We had good starts but things were happening behind the scenes and that did not help," he said. "But things are very different now.

"The new chairman has come in, there has been investment and if the manager finds the right players to strengthen he will be backed with funds.

"I think we definitely have the best squad since we have been in this division.

"The players brought in by the manager are of a higher quality and the squad seems stronger in all areas and that bodes well.

"There are also a good number of young players. I am 32 and I am the oldest outfield player at the club so we are clearly assembling a group of young players who will develop together."

COVENTRY CITY boss Chris Coleman today praised Julian Gray after the winger hit the winner in the Sky Blues' 2-1 win against Barnsley.

The former Birmingham City midfielder came up with the winning goal in a commanding performance at Oakwell.

It was a personal triumph for the left-winger, coming three minutes after a wildly miscued cross had prompted the travelling fans to demand the introduction of Leon McKenzie.

And Coleman was delighted with his contribution.

"It was a great finish," he said, "and I was delighted for Julian because I always had it in mind to change both wingers, him and Michael Mifsud, in the second half.

"I said to the players 'look, we've got a bench full of forwards so give us what you've got and if you blow up with 20 minutes to go we'll make changes.'

"Julian and Michael did a terrific job for us defensively - our shape was much better today - and I thought it was great for Julian to get the winner and receive a standing ovation from our fans as he came off the pitch.

"To be fair, I don't think the fans were booing him so much as singing for Leon because The Duke is a very popular player."

COVENTRY CITY are only two matches into the new campaign but the competition for frontline places is already boiling up.

And that suits manager Chris Coleman down to the ground as he works to create a "cut-throat" culture at the Ricoh Arena.

"In football you often hear people talking about a good dressing room," he explained. "I've said it myself and that's important, but proper team spirit doesn't come from having a jolly boys' day out - it comes from doing things the right way, preparing properly and winning games.

"I don't want a big happy family that's losing every week, I want to win games. To do that you need an edge - and if that means you get a cut-throat atmosphere, I'm happy with that."

THOUGHTFUL, quietly-spoken, a touch on the shy side - Scott Dann doesn't come close to the stereotypical image of a Liverpudlian footballer.

But the centre-half fits the tradition perfectly on the pitch which is why, at the age of 21, he has been handed the captain's armband by Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman.

Dann, snapped up in January with Walsall team-mate Danny Fox, admits the decision came as a surprise - but he is more than happy to accept the responsibility at this tender stage of his thus far hugely-promising career.

CHRIS COLEMAN completed his summer rebuilding programme on Friday when Stephen Wright signed a two-year deal.

The 28-year-old full-back, who has played a full part in the Sky Blues' pre-season programme, is Coleman's sixth summer signing - and he can't wait to start the next phase of a career that has taken in spells at Liverpool, Crewe, Sunderland and Stoke.

"It's good to get everything done and dusted," said Wright.