Coventry City handed major injury boost before crucial Leicester derby

Frank Lampard has received a timely fitness lift ahead of Coventry City’s high-profile M69 derby against Leicester City, with two influential players returning to contention just in time for Saturday’s showdown at the CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues boss confirmed that both Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante have resumed full training at Ryton this week, putting them back in the frame for selection as Coventry prepare for one of their most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the season.

Midfielder Torp appears the more likely of the two to feature from the outset. The Dane has only missed the last three matches due to a calf problem and has recovered swiftly, placing him firmly in contention to return to the starting XI. His availability will come as a major boost to Lampard, given Torp’s importance in the middle of the park and his ability to dictate tempo and link play.

Coventry City forward Brandon Thomas-Asante and midfielder Victor Torp are both in contention for the weekend’s match against Leicester(Image: )

Thomas-Asante’s situation is slightly different. Coventry’s leading scorer has been sidelined since late November after suffering a hamstring tear, an injury that has kept him out of action for the last ten games. While he is now back training and available for selection, Lampard suggested the forward is more likely to be eased back gradually, potentially beginning with a role from the substitutes’ bench.

Providing an update during his pre-match press conference, Lampard said: “Torpy and Brandon are in contention for tomorrow,” offering encouragement to supporters hoping to see two of the club’s most influential performers involved in the derby encounter.

The return of Thomas-Asante, even in a limited capacity, could prove significant. Coventry have had to adapt their attacking approach in his absence, and having the option of introducing a proven goal threat late in the game could be crucial against strong opposition like Leicester.

Lampard also delivered updates on other members of his squad, including full-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden. The defender has been unavailable since picking up an ankle injury in the New Year’s Day fixture at Charlton. While his recovery is progressing positively, Lampard confirmed that the former Villa man remains a couple of weeks away from making his return.

“Yeah, he’s a couple of weeks away but he’s doing well,” Lampard explained, indicating that Kesler-Hayden is on track but will not be rushed back into action.

The only other senior player currently sidelined is goalkeeper Oliver Dovin, who has endured a long road back from a serious cruciate knee injury sustained nearly ten months ago. The Swedish stopper had been targeting a return at some point this month, but Lampard struck a cautious tone when asked about his progress.

“He’s progressing well but I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t got an absolute update on that just in this last week,” Lampard admitted. “I’ve been focussing on other things.”

He added that while Dovin’s rehabilitation is moving in the right direction, the goalkeeper has not yet returned to training with the squad. Lampard stressed that he is keen to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on the player by setting rigid timelines.

“He’s not on the training pitch yet and I don’t want to put any pressure on that timeline,” he said. “We’re hoping he’s available for us this season, but as far as I’m concerned I haven’t got the exact idea of when and I don’t want to commit to something.”

With the derby looming, the potential availability of Torp and Thomas-Asante represents a significant boost for Coventry as they look to rise to the occasion against their East Midlands rivals. While Lampard is likely to manage minutes carefully, particularly with players returning from longer layoffs, the added depth and quality gives him more tactical options for a fixture that could hinge on fine margins.

As anticipation builds ahead of Saturday’s clash, Coventry fans will be encouraged by the sight of key figures edging closer to full fitness, strengthening Lampard’s hand as he prepares his side for one of the most emotionally charged games on the calendar.