MalaGa could Be joined aT ciTy By Paris-Born deFender
ANDY Thorn will take a look at another French centrehalf at Hinckley United today after signing former Nice defender Kevin Malaga on a three-year deal.
The 25-year-old free agent was snapped up by the Coventry City boss after making an immediate impression while on trial at Ryton this week, and compatriot William Edjenguele, who is also 25, could join him if he lives up to his billing.
The Paris-born defender has been at Greek club Panetolikos in recent seasons, helping them gain promotion as champions to Superleague Greece in 2011, only to come straight back down last term. He parted company with the club in May when his contract expired.
And the strapping pair, who both measure up at over 6ft 2in, could be partnered together at the Greene King Stadium this afternoon where traillist Steven Jennings has had to pull out with a “knock.“
Thorn is yet to commit himself over Edjenguele but he knows exactly what he's got in Malaga who has been on trial with the Sky Blues since Tuesday when he was thrown in to an 11-a-side training match.
“He's an old-fashioned centre-half who kicks and heads everything and he's been excellent,“ enthused the City manager who revealed he's a tough competitor who should be just right for League One.
“He and Richard Keogh were outstanding together in a training game. His approach and commitment has been superb. The boys love him and have taken to him straight away, so he's made a really big impression.
“He's a nasty so-and-so too. He's trod on a few in training!“ Malaga, who has also previously played for Auxerre, will join the Sky Blues for their pre-season tour of Scotland.
Thorn added: “We've done our homework on Kevin and we are really pleased to bring him to the club because I know that several other teams were keen to get him, including a Premier League side, so he's an absolute steal.
“His style will suit us because he is a good footballer but he's also strong too and will be a very good addition to the squad.“
The fact that Thorn is looking to sign another centre-half on top of Malaga will no doubt stir up fans' fears that Keogh will be sold. However, City have lost Martin Cranie and James McPake this summer and Nathan Cameron is a little behind his team-mates as he continues his comeback from a knee operation, leaving Richard Wood as the only other fully fit senior centre-back.
Meanwhile, it's been a whirlwind week for Malaga, who hails from Toulon in the south of France * where he was enjoying the sun and contemplating his future after parting company with Nice this summer when he got a call from his agent.
He said: “On Monday, I was relaxing in a pool in France and the temperature outside was 30 degrees. I got a phone call at 2pm to say get yourself over to Coventry. “I had to drive two hours to pick up my boots and then drove to the airport to fly from Nice to London, where it was nine degrees! I arrived in Coventry at 2am the following morning.
“I played in a training game that day and the manager said that he liked me. It has all happened very quickly and I am looking forward to playing for Coventry City and doing well here.
“Over in France, we had a stadium of around 17,000 and the average crowd was 7,000 so this is going to be very different. It is very exciting.“
The centre-back was captain of Nice's reserves last season but when the chance came to ply his trade in England, he took it with both hands.
He added: “I wanted to experience the English game. The mentality here is very different to France as it is much faster and more physical which I believe will suit me.
“I was playing in the reserves for Nice last season so this was a great chance for me.“
n GARY Deegan will be back at Coventry City next week but won't be joining Andy Thorn's squad on tour in Scotland.
The midfielder, who has completed a twoweek suspension for comments he made on Twitter, is due to report to the Academy, in Allard Way, for a week of intensive fitness work and then re-join the senior players on their return a week on Monday.
“Gary will work with the fitness coaches at the Academy and do all the running that we've been doing for the last two weeks, and then when we come back he'll join in with the football side of things,“ said Thorn.
ANDY Thorn will take a look at another French centrehalf at Hinckley United today after signing former Nice defender Kevin Malaga on a three-year deal.
The 25-year-old free agent was snapped up by the Coventry City boss after making an immediate impression while on trial at Ryton this week, and compatriot William Edjenguele, who is also 25, could join him if he lives up to his billing.
The Paris-born defender has been at Greek club Panetolikos in recent seasons, helping them gain promotion as champions to Superleague Greece in 2011, only to come straight back down last term. He parted company with the club in May when his contract expired.
And the strapping pair, who both measure up at over 6ft 2in, could be partnered together at the Greene King Stadium this afternoon where traillist Steven Jennings has had to pull out with a “knock.“
Thorn is yet to commit himself over Edjenguele but he knows exactly what he's got in Malaga who has been on trial with the Sky Blues since Tuesday when he was thrown in to an 11-a-side training match.
“He's an old-fashioned centre-half who kicks and heads everything and he's been excellent,“ enthused the City manager who revealed he's a tough competitor who should be just right for League One.
“He and Richard Keogh were outstanding together in a training game. His approach and commitment has been superb. The boys love him and have taken to him straight away, so he's made a really big impression.
“He's a nasty so-and-so too. He's trod on a few in training!“ Malaga, who has also previously played for Auxerre, will join the Sky Blues for their pre-season tour of Scotland.
Thorn added: “We've done our homework on Kevin and we are really pleased to bring him to the club because I know that several other teams were keen to get him, including a Premier League side, so he's an absolute steal.
“His style will suit us because he is a good footballer but he's also strong too and will be a very good addition to the squad.“
The fact that Thorn is looking to sign another centre-half on top of Malaga will no doubt stir up fans' fears that Keogh will be sold. However, City have lost Martin Cranie and James McPake this summer and Nathan Cameron is a little behind his team-mates as he continues his comeback from a knee operation, leaving Richard Wood as the only other fully fit senior centre-back.
Meanwhile, it's been a whirlwind week for Malaga, who hails from Toulon in the south of France * where he was enjoying the sun and contemplating his future after parting company with Nice this summer when he got a call from his agent.
He said: “On Monday, I was relaxing in a pool in France and the temperature outside was 30 degrees. I got a phone call at 2pm to say get yourself over to Coventry. “I had to drive two hours to pick up my boots and then drove to the airport to fly from Nice to London, where it was nine degrees! I arrived in Coventry at 2am the following morning.
“I played in a training game that day and the manager said that he liked me. It has all happened very quickly and I am looking forward to playing for Coventry City and doing well here.
“Over in France, we had a stadium of around 17,000 and the average crowd was 7,000 so this is going to be very different. It is very exciting.“
The centre-back was captain of Nice's reserves last season but when the chance came to ply his trade in England, he took it with both hands.
He added: “I wanted to experience the English game. The mentality here is very different to France as it is much faster and more physical which I believe will suit me.
“I was playing in the reserves for Nice last season so this was a great chance for me.“
n GARY Deegan will be back at Coventry City next week but won't be joining Andy Thorn's squad on tour in Scotland.
The midfielder, who has completed a twoweek suspension for comments he made on Twitter, is due to report to the Academy, in Allard Way, for a week of intensive fitness work and then re-join the senior players on their return a week on Monday.
“Gary will work with the fitness coaches at the Academy and do all the running that we've been doing for the last two weeks, and then when we come back he'll join in with the football side of things,“ said Thorn.
