Coventry City’s deadline move for striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, a former Sky Blues academy product who made his first debut for the club aged 16, has proved to be the catalyst for Mark Robins side to revive not only their play-off ambitions but hopes of an automatic promotion place as well.
Any signing is a gamble and Robins himself described Clarke-Harris as a ‘rough diamond’ following a performance and a goal against Premier League Brighton in the FA Cup that drew praise from a number of different observers of that game.
Defeat at the Amex came on the back of three damaging league losses but the momentum generated by the display against the Seagulls and the energy provided by Clarke-Harris has seen City win three and draw two (against promotion rivals) of their following five matches.
The player himself has bagged two goals and was also credited with the opener against Crewe by many although it has officialy been marked down as an own goal.
City’s situation needed something more than just a promising youngster from the academy ranks of a Premier League or Championship club.
Clarke-Harris is only 23 but his early start in the professional ranks mean he has notched up over 150 senior appearances.
The majority of those have come as a substitute and he now appears to be revelling in the chance of being the main man in a team heading in the right direction.
