Absentees, injuries and squad numbers – things spotted in Coventry City’s pre-season return

Coventry City’s players reported back for pre-season duty this week, including one new face in latest signing Kaine Kesler-Hayden who met his new teammates at Ryton for the first time on Monday.

The Sky Blues have undergone rigorous fitness testing including the gruelling bleep test as well as a bit of ball work in their first two days when all but three players have returned to begin the club’s preparations for the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Notable absentees include star striker Haji Wright and defender Joel Latibeaudiere – both of whom have been on international duty with USA and Jamaica, respectively, and have been given extra time off over the summer.

In Wright’s case, he played three games for his country, the last being on June 16 when he scored against Trinidad and Tobago but also aggravated an Achilles injury – the full extent of which is yet to be known publicly. Latibeaudiere, meanwhile, hasn’t had much of a summer holiday after featuring prominently for his country and last playing a full 90 minutes just last week (June 25).

The only other player yet to report back is Frank Lampard’s first summer signing, Spanish right-back Miguel Angel Brau who is expected to hook up with the Sky Blues shortly.

The 23-year-old, who has signed on a free transfer from Spain second division outfit Granada, also had an extended season due to his former team being involved in the play-offs which ran into June.

The question of squad numbers is always of interest to fans who will be keen to see what number the new signings are handed. Brau has previously worn the No.3 but that’s currently taken by Jay Dasilva, although 33 is vacant.

Kesler-Hayden has previously taken No.29 but is yet to be issued with an official number at City and is currently wearing No.20. Many players these days like to stick with certain numbers throughout their careers but No.29 is already taken by Victor Torp, although he could swap his if he’s not that bothered.

That was the case a couple of seasons ago when Milan van Ewijk arrived and asked for No.27, which had been worn by Jake Bidwell. Bidders, however, wasn’t that fussed and switched to No.21.

In terms of players who ended the season injured on the sidelines, Torp has fully recovered and involved in the summer workouts while goalkeeper Oliver Dovin is confined to the gym as he continues his long-haul rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

Elsewhere, Lampard’s first team squad includes seven under-21s/development players, including striker Justin Obikwu and central midfielder Kai Andrews following their impressive loan spells with Grimsby Town and Motherwell, respectively.

Also training with the seniors are centre-forward Aidan Dausch, who had a loan spell with St Albans last term, central midfielder Isaac Moore – who has just signed a new three year contract – right-back Greg Sandiford Jnr, centre-half Callum Perry and goalkeeper Luke Bell.