Coventry City striker Freddy Eastwood is preparing to make the most of his chance in the City side to face Crystal Palace in the Saturday's FA Cup clash at The Ricoh.
Eastwood has recently returned to full fitness after recovering from a knee injury which kept him out for two months.
Eastwood started the new season with two goals against Portsmouth and started to show glimpses of the goals scoring form that secured his move from Southend to Wolves and then to Coventry City.
Then came the knee injury followed by the signing of Marlon King and Freddy found it hard to regain his place in the Sky Blues side as manager Aidy Boothroyd preferred the Platt/King partnership up front.
However two goals in two games has proved that Eastwood still knows how to score and he is ready to make the most of the three game ban that King is serving for being sent off against Ipswich Town at the Ricoh Arena.
Eastwood said to the CT: "The manager said to me that when I get my chance I have to take it and that's what I have tried to do. I thought I played particularly well against Ipswich and have got a couple of goals now and it is just a shame we haven't picked up more points from the games."
Although Eastwood is set to benefit from King's absence and get a run in the side, he regrets not having King to play with as the two look like forging a promising strike partnership.
"We played together for the first time against Ipswich and I thought we did very well together," explained Eastwood.
"Whenever the ball came up to us we did something with it and it is just disappointing to see him sent off because it means it is going to be a while before we play together again. I think had he not got his red card we would probably have started the Barnsley game together and maybe been given a little run."
"I didn't see the tackle at the time and I haven't seen it since but regardless of whether it was or wasn't we are still disappointed because we need a player like him on the pitch. Losing him definitely had a bearing on the result on the day and with 11 men on the pitch I think we would have gone on to win the game."
"I have got no doubt about that because Kingy and myself were causing them problems, especially early in the second half. I'm delighted to be back and delighted, to be honest, to be on the team sheet. It is OK coming on as a sub but you get all your confidence and goals from starting games, as we have seen with Marlon."
Eastwood said he accepted he would have to bide his time as King and Platt were Boothroyd's preferred front players, but he revealed that he was concerned enough about his future at Coventry to seek a meeting with Boothroyd before the Christmas period to find out where he stood.
"We had a chat a couple of weeks ago because I obviously want to play football and I think if I keep playing like I have been then I will play," he said.
Eastwood doesn't mind being kept out of the side by a quality player, but he is also eager to play alongside the quality of King.
Eastwood added, "He has got a lovely silky touch and he put the defender on the back foot and I was looking for it and he just set it up perfectly to be honest and I was delighted to see it hit the back of the net."
"I had a couple of shots in the first half, one with my left and one with my right, and that's why I want to start games because then I can get my shots off and express the way I want to play."
Not surprisingly Freddy tired more quickly and had to be replaced and was given a standing ovation by the City support when he went off in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich.
"I am delighted with the fans because ever since I have pulled the blue shirt on they have been behind me and I want to do well for them and keep getting ovations. I just want to keep fit and keep playing and I'm looking forward to the FA Cup this weekend. I have scored a few goals in the competition in the past so hopefully with a couple under my belt going into the game, I can get on the score sheet against Palace."
Eastwood ended by saying: "I took good care of myself in the summer and came back really fit. I had a really good start with a couple of goals in the first game and then got injured, which was a big disappointment but I have been patient and I am back in now and I want to stay there."
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