Coventry City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has said he believes that competition for places in the starting eleven is good for the players and good for the team.
Jutkiewicz has been starting games for the Sky Blues while Marlon King has been serving a three game ban for being sent off against Ipswich, but King has now served his punishment and will be back in contention for a start at QPR in Sunday's televised game and Jutkiewicz may have to be content with a place on the bench.
The 21 year old former Everton striker said to the CT: "Competition is a good thing. It's always healthy to have several players pushing for places and it's up to all of us to work hard and to prove to the manager that we should be in the team."
Jutkiewicz played in the one sided 0-0 draw with Sheffield United and had his fair share of chances to score, but like all of the strikers on display that day, none could either beat Simonsen in the Blades goal or find the target, but despite all that, the striker did get praise from his manager for his effort when he left the field battered and bruised.
"I took a boot in the face when I dived in for a header, but that's something that's expected of you when you're a striker," he said. "We can't fault the effort but we just couldn't convert the chances into goals which is frustrating, but we can hold our heads up and say we played very well and dominated the game."
"The performance was right up there with the best we've had this season and all of the lads came into the dressing room a little bit bewildered about how we didn't get three points.
"The one from Gary McSheffrey that hit the bar twice before going out seemed to sum up our day, it wasn't going to happen for us, but there were a lot more positives than negatives. A lot of people were saying that it's the best we've played this season, and Martin Cranie reckons it's the best we've played since he's been here.
"We want to dominate for 90 minutes and not just in spells so that's one plus we can take from the game. It's a lot different from games when you don't play well and you start looking at yourselves and what you need to do differently. You can't go home and kick yourself after a performance like that, because we'll play a lot worse and win.
"It just goes to show what we're capable of if we all do our jobs properly and if we keep that belief I'm sure we'll be able to start turning the chances into goals."
One of the reasons why Coventry put in such a dominating and pleasing display was because of the contribution of the two wingers McSheffrey and Baker, who both continually opened up chances.
"Carl had a point to prove and he's shown that he's a major asset to the team. Defenders don't like playing against him because he's got such good feet and he can go past them or go inside. He's been a massive player for us in the last couple of games and proves that we're not just a route one team."
"The manager keeps telling us that it's all about the right ball at the right time. You play where there are spaces, whether that means playing it short or playing it long."
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