Coleman pines for Clingan

Clingan: Influential

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Chris Coleman feels Sammy Clingan's return from injury could help to bring about a reversal in fortune for Coventry.

The influential midfielder has been sidelined since early October with a broken toe, with his absence coinciding with an alarming dip in form for the Sky Blues.

Seven games without a win have seen the club slump towards the relegation dogfight, with just three points separating them from the Championship drop zone.

Coleman, though, believes a play-off push is not out of the question this term, providing he is able to field his strongest side - which includes Clingan.

"He's coming on quite slowly really," the Sky Blues boss said in the Coventry Telegraph.

"The metatarsal is a difficult one and even though the surgeon said he should have been back last week, that was too soon to be honest.

"He is doing bits of work with the physio but he is still not pain-free and I don't see him being available for the next couple of games.

Presence

"Even when he gets back to full training, he is going to need a reserve game first because he has been out for the best part of two months.

"We want Sammy back because we have missed his presence and experience, not to mention his quality, so it has been frustrating and we haven't, as yet, got all the players fit and on the pitch for a run of games and that has been frustrating to be honest.

"And it is frustrating for the players as well because you can see it in training sometimes when players get aggravated and we are all disappointed with where we are in the table.

"But it is only us that can change that and I am still interested to see how far we can go when everyone is fit and enjoying a run of games because I think we are strong enough to pick some really good points up, some serious points.

"I am not promising the play-offs or anything like that but if you look we are where we are and that is a very dangerous area.

"Yes, there are loads of games to play but let's get away from it asap, and let's get back to a positive feeling around the training ground and the players being in a better mood.

"We have got to start going on little runs and getting results, which we haven't been doing."