Cody McDonald returns with no sign of new loan striker

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Andy Thorn is hoping to welcome forgotten man Cody McDonald back to his matchday squad this weekend as there remains no sign of a loan striker at Coventry City.

The Sky Blues boss and transfer negotiator Steve Waggott have been working hard to identify and draft in help up front but have so far drawn a blank, leaving Thorn forced to keep going with what he has got.

A number of potentially exciting targets have fallen flat for a number of reasons, not least the fact that players like QPR’s Rob Hulse have been included in their managers’ preferred 25-man squads.

In the meantime, City are forced to battle on with veteran Clive Platt and livewire loan Alex Nimely with very little back-up other than Freddy Eastwood, who has hardly kicked a competitive ball this season, and the returning McDonald.

The former Norwich City forward has been out since early December with a knee ligament injury and will clearly need pitch time to get back up to fitness but Thorn admits it’s a case of all hands to the pump at the moment.

“Cody has started back training so he will have a good blast this week and as soon as he is back I will stick him straight back amongst it,” he said.

“He’s been training for a few days and it is important we get him back as quickly as possible.

"As long as he comes through training this week he may well be back in the matchday squad on Saturday.”

The 25-year-old was prolific at Gillingham last season but yet to hit the mark with the Sky Blues for whom he has managed just one goal in 11 appearances since signing in August.

And Thorn is hoping the arrival and exciting form of Nimely will push McDonald to realise his potential with the club.

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Andy Thorn: No more loans for Coventry City this season

COVENTRY City manager Andy Thorn does not expect to get any more loan deals to help the club’s battle against relegation this season.

The Sky Blues boss had hoped to recruit two new strikers to help with the final push as City battle to keep their place in the Championship.

But when asked if he was any closer to getting someone in today, Thorn replied: “No.”

And when asked if he’d given up completely on getting anyone, he said: “Yes. I wouldn’t have thought anyone will be coming in in the emergency window

“I’ve seen players who I would have liked move to other clubs but I can’t do anything about that and I have got to get on with it.”