Could City do with Stead-y striker?

With the emergency loan window now open for Football League clubs, Coventry City manager Chris Coleman will be hoping to beef up his side’s attacking options with a striker swoop.

Most of the attention to date has centered on Sunderland forward David Healy but a number of Championship clubs are likely to join the race for the Northern Ireland legend and may offer him a more attractive option than a switch to the Ricoh Arena.

Could another name in the frame be Ipswich forward John Stead, surplus to requirements at Portman Road according to reports this week?

Tipped for the top after coming through the ranks at Huddersfield Town, Stead made a blistering start to life in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers but has fallen away since then, moves to Sunderland, Sheffield United and Ipswich failing to revive his career.

He retains a healthy strike rate however, especially at Championship level and is only 26 years old, making him a more realistic target than David Healy whose premier League wages will be difficult to match.