Cet: Thomas crocked by deegan
THOMAS CROCKED BY DEEGAN
CONOR Thomas is set to miss the first month of Coventry City's League One season.
The home-bred midfielder damaged ankle ligaments in training last week ­ and the Telegraph understands that the injury was a parting shot from Gary `Pitbull' Deegan.
Our information is that the Irishman caught Thomas with a clattering tackle on Thursday, 24 hours before heading north to sign for Hibernian, Andy Thorn was apparently furious at the challenge but yesterday declined to go into detail beyond confirming: “It's a nasty injury and we're probably looking at Conor being out for four or five weeks.“
It's an untimely setback for Thomas who was one of the candidates to fill the holding role in Thorn's midfield diamond following Sammy Clingan's departure. Centre-back Reece Brown was tried there at Accrington last Saturday with Academy youngster Billy Daniels and trialist Steve Jennings each given 45 minutes in the role at Port Vale, John Fleck is also set to miss City's Capital One Cup trip to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday after tweaking his thigh at Accrington but Thorn explained: “It's a minor problem which should clear up in five or six days so, all being well, he will be fine for our first league game at yeovil.“
nathan Cameron, returning from his knee injury, suffered a minor setback at the weekend and will be anxious to make up lost time so he doesn't drop further down the centre-back pecking order while full-back Cyrus Christie, out of action since tearing his ligaments at Burnley in april, hopes to be back in training in a couple of weeks.
Midfielder david Bell, however, is facing another two months on the sidelines as he recuperates from his hip operation.
thorn will have another look at Jennings and Hungarian striker Peter Poloskei when the Sky Blues wrap up their pre-season programme with a trip to League two Bristol rovers on Saturday. Chris Hussey, who has been suffering from a virus, is expected to be available for the friendly.