Wood In, But Cranie And Baker Out

Last updated : 26 July 2011 By Covsupport News Service/RD

Coventry City travel to Chesterfield tonight for their latest pre-season friendly encounter, but will be without the services of Carl Baker and Martin Cranie.

Both players have minor knocks and should be fit for the home game against Norwich City next Saturday. Cranie has a hip injury while Baker is nursing a sore foot.

In their absence Richard Wood is in line to make his first start of the pre-season campaign and could play the entire 90 minutes.

Another beneficiary could be teenager Conor Thomas who is likely to be named as Baker's replacement in the starting eleven at Chesterfield.

City manager Andy Thorn said to the CT: “Martin and Carl are still feeling a bit sore so they will miss the game but they should be OK to join back in with training at the end of the week."

The last time Coventry visited Chesterfield was way back in 1974 when Gordon Milne was their manager. City won that friendly game 2-0. It was a game that Chesterfield's current Youth Team boss Dave Bentley would like to forget though. He made his Chesterfield debut in the game but was injured and missed the rest of the season.

Spirits manager John Sheridan is likely to filed what he believes is close to his strongest team against Coventry City. The side will probably contain defender Simon Ford, who missed last Saturday's friendly at Macclesfield Town because of a minor knee injury and Jordan Bowery, who is being tipped as a player to watch out for in the future.

Coventry City will be hoping to continue their unbeaten pre-season friendly run with another win tonight. The beat Kettering Town 1-0 last Saturday and they have also beaten Hinckley Town 3-0 and drawn 2-2 with Nuneaton Town.

Coventry City captain Sammy Clingan is a former Chesterfield player, having had two spells there on loan from Wolves during the 2004/5 and 2005/6 seasons. He made a total of 36 appearances and scored three goals during his stay at the club and is likely to be given a warm reception by the home fans.