Six youngsters who could impress Frank Lampard in pre-season..
Coventry City pre-season news from CoventryLive as we take a look at the develoment players who have the opportunity to catch the head coach’s eye this summer..
Pre-season is traditionally a time of year when young development players can catch the eye of the manager.
It’s an opportunity for those striving to bridge the gap from the Under-21s to the first team to put themselves on the senior coaches’ radar both when joining in with first team training and in friendly games.
That has certainly been the case at Coventry City over the years, with the summer months an ideal time for up-and-coming players to mix with the first team squad and get a taste of what it’s like to step up.
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This year is no different with five development players joining the Sky Blues on pre-season training camp in Portugal, with three featuring in Saturday’s opening warm-up game against Portimonense, and expected to feature along with others in a few more games to come.
Here we look at the lads who are currently trying to impress Frank Lampard and his coaching staff.
Luke Bell
The 20-year-old was enjoying an impressive loan spell at Gloucester City last season when he was recalled due to Oliver Dovin’s serious knee injury. Bell made a real impression with Gloucester, whose manager Mike Cook – himself a former youth team player with Coventry from the mid-late 1980s – said he was the “best reaction shot stopper” he had ever seen.
The lad got his first 45 minutes for the first team against Portimonense, playing the second half in the 2-0 defeat in Portugal.
City strengthened their Under-21s squad with the signing of Fulham goalkeeper Oscar Varney on a free transfer last month and he was immediately handed a plane ticket to travel out to Portugal with Lampard and his squad.
He’s yet to feature and may find it hard to get game friendly game time this summer if the other more senior keepers stay fit, but he will certainly have the chance to impress on the training pitch.
Callum Perry
The young centre-back is a regular in the Under-21s and earned a place as an unused sub on the bench a couple of times last season, while also training with the first team squad. He started alongside Liam Kitching and played the first 45 minutes in Portugal at the weekend. Perry had a spell at non-league Rushden and Diamonds last season and could well end up going back out on loan this season to further his development with senior men’s football.
Kai Andrews
The lively and athletic central midfielder started Saturday’s game alongside Matt Grimes and is clearly looking to show what he can do after earning rave reviews north of the border where got game time in the Scottish Premier with Motherwell, including an impressive contribution in a brilliant 2-1 win over Rangers in front of 50,000 fans at Ibrox. He also gained recognition by his country when he was called up for senior international duty with Wales along with fellow Sky Blue, Jay Dasilva.
Opportunity knocks for the holding midfielder.
Kai Andrews and Oscar Varney (left) in pre-season training with Coventry City
Kai Andrews and Oscar Varney (left) in pre-season training with Coventry City
Justin Obikwu
Lampard said last season that athletic striker Obikwu is a “really interesting” prospect and is looking forward to getting a closer look at him this summer.
The 21-year-old Sky Blues development star spent time on loan at League Two Grimsby Town last term, having also spent the second half of the previous season at Blundell Park too. He scored seven goals in 22 appearances for the Mariners. He was unable to feature at the weekend but is hoped to be fit for the forthcoming friendlies.
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