Latics versus Sky Blues: Loan stars?

Coventry City’s quest for a first league victory of the season, after the welcome diversion of the midweek trip to Arsenal, takes them to Greater Manchester this Saturday when a host of players contracted to other clubs will look to earn the Sky Blues three points against Oldham Athletic.

James Bailey, drafted in from Derby County earlier this week, is the fourth signing of Robins’ week-long reign and could be one of a quintet of loan players who start for the visitors at Boundary Park.

Needs must and Robins has a short-term fire to fight before he can think of the future. He can also say, with some justification, that those players already at the club (young and old, old and new) have been given enough chances, but packing a side with loanees is never a healthy situation and supporters getting used to the unfamiliar names in the side will hope it is only temporary.

Oldham have problems of their own with manager Paul Dickov under pressure following a poor start to the campaign.

He will be looking to a loan signing of his own to help the home side get a much-needed victory. Matt Derbyshire’s star may have fallen quite dramatically in the past year but the Nottingham Forest striker has already proved to be a threat at League One level. Popular ex-City man Robbie Simpson will be hoping to start alongside Derbyshire up front.