MIFSUD DOUBTFUL FOR SKY BLUES
Yahoo! Eurosport, UK
Tue 11 Sep, 05:30 PM
Michael Mifsud is a doubt for Coventry’s Championship clash against
Bristol City after making an early return from international duty.The
26-year-old Malta striker sustained a knock during his country’s 2-2
Euro 2008 qualifying draw against Turkey at the weekend and has pulled
out of the squad to face Armenia in a friendly on Wednesday.
Malta coach Dusan Fitzel said: "He took a knock in the first half. He
received treatment from the doctor at half-time and he was better in
the second half.
"Michael would have been available for the friendly but I decided
not to risk him. The Coventry coach initially asked for Michael to
be released from the friendly but I told him that my plan was to play
him for 45 minutes.
"However, there is no point in calling on Mifsud if he is not fully
fit. It is better that he continues to receive treatment in the hope
that he will be fit to play for Coventry on Saturday.
"We need Michael to be fit and playing for his club regularly because
that would also benefit the national team."
Meanwhile, Coventry boss Iain Dowie is hoping for a bumper crowd at
the Ricoh Arena when his table-topping side resume their Championship
campaign against City.
Late goals from Dele Adebola and Michael Doyle helped the Sky Blues
sign off for the international break with a 2-1 home win against
Preston and preserve their unbeaten start to the season.
Dowie paid tribute to the vociferous home support that day and he
has called for a repeat against the Robins this weekend.
"The fans got right behind us in the last 15 minutes against
Preston and they really pushed us on to get the goals to win the
game. Hopefully they will do that for the full 90 (minutes) against
Bristol City," said Dowie.
"We haven’t had a game for two weeks so hopefully they will be just
as hungry and enthusiastic as we are.
"I want the people of Coventry to believe in us and get behind us
and I would love the Ricoh Arena to become a fortress, rocking with
thousands of supporters."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress