city boss is impresseD
MARK Robins has hinted that he may sign former Chelsea youth team captain Danny Philliskirk until the end of the season.
But although the Coventry City boss has got a number of other targets in mind, the 21-year-old striker may be his only capture in the January transfer window which closes tomorrow.
Philliskirk is training with the Sky Blues after leaving Sheffield United by mutual consent last week and Robins said: “Danny is a clever player.
“He had a move from Oldham to Chelsea for fairly big money for his age and it didn't quite work out for him. He then went to Sheffield where again it didn't work out and he's eager to earn a contract somewhere. We'll see * I'm having a look at him. “He came in on Monday morning and went straight into the Under-21 game and did pretty well. He got on the ball and found pockets of space. We gave him the ball often and he's got an incisive pass. He's not lightning quick but he's quick enough, creates chances and generally will score a goal. He's just not had a run of games but we'll assess him. He's an intelligent footballer and I want to have good footballers in and around the club who can be effective in any system that we play.“
He added: “I have got to look at the various avenues open to me and exploit them. There's a deadline coming up which isn't too pertinent to us but the loan window opens the week after, so we'll see.
“We're trying to do something but I am mindful that people have to go out and I have got to make sure we bring people in who are going to add value to the squad, which is the difficult part.
“But there are players out there and one or two things bubbling under the surface. Whether they come off or not we will have to wait and see but I am happy with the way things are progressing.“ City certainly don't have money to buy anyone and it's a case of getting players out on loan to free up wages to bring new ones in.
“Nothing has changed financially so I have to make things happen by wheeling and dealing,“ said the manager.
“It's very difficult because we have got a squad and budget that is really competitive at this level and that's obviously been taken up before I came in and everything I have done in the meantime has been to try and work a bit of wriggle room.
“But there's not a great deal of wriggle room. In terms of permanents if we decide to take a look at Danny * that may be a permanent to the end of the season * but we'll have to wait and see because there's not a massive amount of time to look at him.“
He added: “There are always people who are on the radar and I have got people in mind that I'd like to bring in on permanent deals but we can't do that yet.
“Everything has got to be done prudently and within the plan.
“If we can free some money if someone becomes available then we'll do it when the time's right, but there's not a great deal of scope to do that at the moment.
“Nothing's changed since I walked in the door but we have got a squad of players there who are capable and a young under-21 side that play decent football and hopefully that will continue.“
Robins admits he has to look at making the best of what he's got, including development squad players looking to break through to the first team and returning players like Callum Ball and David Bell who have been out with injury.
“I have to weigh up what I have got in the building and how I can utilise those players as well because there has to be a pathway to the first team,“ he said, “but they have got to show they are capable of adding value to the squad and knuckle down.
“People who have not been around it are not going to be happy but they have to be on their toes and ready to take an opportunity, and one thing's for sure they will get opportunities for various reasons.
“Callum played 90 minutes on Monday and he looked sharp and in all fairness it was a good Under-21 performance; we passed the ball well and created a load of chances and it was reminiscent of the first team performance, so I was pleased with the way they went about the game.
“He's fit and pushes himself into contention and it gives me a stronger number to choose from. We need everyone fit at this stage and ready to force themselves into the reckoning.
“I am looking at everyone to make an impact. There are people who are coming out of contract and looking to renew and they have got to show that they can add that value because countrywide we're all in the same position and every penny counts.
MARK Robins has hinted that he may sign former Chelsea youth team captain Danny Philliskirk until the end of the season.
But although the Coventry City boss has got a number of other targets in mind, the 21-year-old striker may be his only capture in the January transfer window which closes tomorrow.
Philliskirk is training with the Sky Blues after leaving Sheffield United by mutual consent last week and Robins said: “Danny is a clever player.
“He had a move from Oldham to Chelsea for fairly big money for his age and it didn't quite work out for him. He then went to Sheffield where again it didn't work out and he's eager to earn a contract somewhere. We'll see * I'm having a look at him. “He came in on Monday morning and went straight into the Under-21 game and did pretty well. He got on the ball and found pockets of space. We gave him the ball often and he's got an incisive pass. He's not lightning quick but he's quick enough, creates chances and generally will score a goal. He's just not had a run of games but we'll assess him. He's an intelligent footballer and I want to have good footballers in and around the club who can be effective in any system that we play.“
He added: “I have got to look at the various avenues open to me and exploit them. There's a deadline coming up which isn't too pertinent to us but the loan window opens the week after, so we'll see.
“We're trying to do something but I am mindful that people have to go out and I have got to make sure we bring people in who are going to add value to the squad, which is the difficult part.
“But there are players out there and one or two things bubbling under the surface. Whether they come off or not we will have to wait and see but I am happy with the way things are progressing.“ City certainly don't have money to buy anyone and it's a case of getting players out on loan to free up wages to bring new ones in.
“Nothing has changed financially so I have to make things happen by wheeling and dealing,“ said the manager.
“It's very difficult because we have got a squad and budget that is really competitive at this level and that's obviously been taken up before I came in and everything I have done in the meantime has been to try and work a bit of wriggle room.
“But there's not a great deal of wriggle room. In terms of permanents if we decide to take a look at Danny * that may be a permanent to the end of the season * but we'll have to wait and see because there's not a massive amount of time to look at him.“
He added: “There are always people who are on the radar and I have got people in mind that I'd like to bring in on permanent deals but we can't do that yet.
“Everything has got to be done prudently and within the plan.
“If we can free some money if someone becomes available then we'll do it when the time's right, but there's not a great deal of scope to do that at the moment.
“Nothing's changed since I walked in the door but we have got a squad of players there who are capable and a young under-21 side that play decent football and hopefully that will continue.“
Robins admits he has to look at making the best of what he's got, including development squad players looking to break through to the first team and returning players like Callum Ball and David Bell who have been out with injury.
“I have to weigh up what I have got in the building and how I can utilise those players as well because there has to be a pathway to the first team,“ he said, “but they have got to show they are capable of adding value to the squad and knuckle down.
“People who have not been around it are not going to be happy but they have to be on their toes and ready to take an opportunity, and one thing's for sure they will get opportunities for various reasons.
“Callum played 90 minutes on Monday and he looked sharp and in all fairness it was a good Under-21 performance; we passed the ball well and created a load of chances and it was reminiscent of the first team performance, so I was pleased with the way they went about the game.
“He's fit and pushes himself into contention and it gives me a stronger number to choose from. We need everyone fit at this stage and ready to force themselves into the reckoning.
“I am looking at everyone to make an impact. There are people who are coming out of contract and looking to renew and they have got to show that they can add that value because countrywide we're all in the same position and every penny counts.
