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A worrying rumour is going around about Gary McSheffrey. This is from the Sky Blue Superplex:

SHEFF IN DRUG RUMOURS
A very interesting rumour has been doing the rounds: Namely that Gary McSheffrey is the so-called 'Nandrolone Kid' - a player currently being investigated by the FA after testing positive for a banned substance!

We must stress that this is only a rumour, but the fact is that a previously in-form McSheffrey has been left out of the last few games, and not even on the bench, despite not having any obvious injury.

While the player's identity has officially been protected, press speculation has already hinted that it is a young player with a Nationwide League Club. We can only hope that it's not true, and that Gary Mac will play Sheff at the weekend, to rule him out of the list of suspects.

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I thought it was a Player with a Premier League team.

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Coventry to pounce as Dublin brands Villa attack "useless"
tribalfootball.com - November 9, 2002

Dion Dublin has described Aston Villa as "useless" in front of goal this season.
Villa have only scored seven times in 12 Premiership games this season and the former England international said: "We are all battling hard.

"We are all trying our hardest but our quality of football has not been as good as it should be.

"Our end product has been useless. We have not put the ball in the net, we know that. It is down to the forwards mainly but other people have to chip in, too.

"We have got to take a long look at ourselves, do some finishing sessions, and get it right on Saturdays."

Meanwhile, Coventry boss Gary McAllister continues to be linked with Dublin. A former Sky Blues hero, Dublin is believed to be a loan target for McAllister.

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Newcastle United goal hero Stephen Caldwell said he "never gave up" on breaking through at St James' Park.
The Scotland international was almost on his way to Coventry on-loan last week before a mini injury crisis forced boss Sir Bobby Robson to include him in yesterday's 2-0 Tyne-Tees derby win.

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Coventry City boss Gary McAllister is chasing Aston Villa centre-forward Dion Dublin.
McAllister wants to sign the former England international on-loan to help the Sky Blues' promotion push in the second-half of the season.

Dublin is a former Highfield Road favourite and would become McAllister's second high-profile signing after earlier this week snapping up Craig Hignett from Blackburn Rovers on-loan.

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Blackburn midfielder Craig Hignett, with just 19 League starts for the Ewood Park club and currently on loan with First Division Coventry is hoping his time at Highfield Road will lead to a permanent position elsewhere.
The former Middlesbrough player said: "This move puts me in the shop window and I want to do well to either earn a contract at Coventry or somewhere else.

"Graeme Souness has made it clear that I haven't got a future at Blackburn and that I can go.

"The amount of games I have played has been minimal and I now want to end my career on a high somewhere."

32-year-old Hignett was signed for £2.25 million in the summer of 2000 from Barnsley.

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The Royals will be visiting Sky Blue Lodge this weekend – Reading FC that is, as they face both the Academy sides in this weekend’s youth fixtures.

An in-form Reading, who beat Crystal Palace 3-0 last week, take on George Mackie’s under 19s who are still searching for their second win of the season.

Brian Borrows’ under 17s hope to build on their goal-less draw last week against Crystal Palace and heap more misery on The young Royals who were defeated in their last game by Millwall.

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The Sky Blues have been dealt a blow by news of a recurrence of Julian Joachim’s heel injury after just one substitute appearance in the first team.

Joachim has been plagued by injury since his arrival at Coventry but Gary McAllister was optimistic that after this latest spell out the team he could come back in and seriously effect City’s promotion charge.

Joachim had been out injured for 11 weeks with his latest knock but had worked hard on his fitness and returned to action last weekend against Rotherham when he came on as a substitute for 20 minutes. After a good showing it seemed Joachim might be able to rekindle some of his old form but Macca today revealed the injury has returned.

"Julian has had a recurrence of his old injury. The diagnosis is he may now need an operation and that is very disappointing. I thought for the 20 minutes he came on against Rotherham he looked pretty lively and it would have been a massive boost for us.

"He reported yesterday and was in pain so he couldn’t even travel to Palace. We’ve got to try and keep him buoyed but he’s very frustrated because he’s spent a good six weeks building up his fitness after he’d had a few injections. I don’t think the doctors and physios are going to go down that road again. I think they are going to have a little exploratory operation to see what the problem is.

"It’s in his ankle – it’s not his Achilles but it’s just acute and very hard to treat. We have no idea how long this could keep him out for. The doctors feel they need to have a look so immediately he’s going to be missing again."

Last night’s defeat to Crystal Palace further highlighted the need for a new striker at the club as the Sky Blues missed a hatful of good chances in the opening 20 minutes. Macca says spirits are still high and the team will be sticking with their passing game. He remains optimistic but will be continuing his search for a front man.

"We didn’t get back until about 2 o’clock this morning so today was just a recovery session. We had a chat and we’ve focussed on the positives again. Rather than being too disappointed and moping around we looked at the first 25 minutes where there were chances created and good openings.

"That’s what we’ve got to keep doing. We’ve got to keep trusting the way we’re trying to play because there is hope there in the fact we are creating chances. It’s now up to the strikers to go and make themselves heroes. We don’t mind whether it’s one going in off their backsides or them sliding in and the ball hitting their face and going in.

"We’re doing OK but we can do a lot better. We’ve got to be looking to improve. For 25 minutes last night we played as well as we have done this season again but didn’t capitalise.

"It’ll click. We’ll score a scrappy goal and we might go on a little run. I’ve still got good feelings and am still very positive. We need a few goals but it’s not for the fact we’re not creating chances. I think we are creating opportunities and are looking quite offensive.

"We’re constantly trying to bring in new faces. A couple of the Scandinavian leagues have finished so we’ve invited three or four people over in the next week or so.

"Up front is a position most clubs want and we unfortunately lost two very attacking players at the start of the season and replacing them isn’t easy, especially with no money.

"We’ve made a few enquiries for Dion this season – when he’s in the team and when he’s out of it - but I would say he’s probably Villa’s number one striker at the moment. We’ve had a go at getting a lot of experienced guys but the fact is the Premiership clubs can afford to keep them and hold them there.

"There was a little bit of hope Dion might come before he got into the team again recently but just as we saw a bit of light Graham Taylor put him back in."

Macca moved up front in the second half last night to help the team get a goal and he says it is not just the strikers’ responsibility to score. He wants to see more attacking impetus from several players to help the Sky Blues move up the league.

"I was under orders from my coaches last night to try and get closer to the front guys. The striking thing is Millsy is giving it absolutely everything and I’m sure he’ll get a break of the ball. We’ve got to look to Craig Hignett, Richie Partridge and Brian Kerr – the attacking players and I include myself – to go and get a goal on the back of a lot of good play."

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Gary McAllister today revealed he has plans to make changes to improve Coventry City Football Club at more than just senior level.

He has noticed the performances of the reserve team – who are yet to win this season in the FA Premier Reserve League – and the Under-19s – who have not won since the opening day of the campaign and wants to make long-term alterations to make the whole club stronger.

'You’ll see quite a lot of changes here, so you can identify it’s my players and my team. I don’t quite feel I have achieved that yet and there will still be lots of changes made to improve Coventry City Football Club.

'The guys I’ve employed by my side have a similar thinking about football and although we’ll never get the finished article we strive to keep improving and making players better.

'I’m very much aware of the Under 19s and reserves poor results so I’m talking about there being a big shift of players and more people coming in. I’m looking to strengthen right through the club and bring players in at a younger level.

'There are a good groups of players in the Under 17s but we’re a bit short of 18 and 19-year-olds and reserve players. If we are going to do a job we want to do it throughout the entire place so people are capable of making the progression to the first team when we decide to push them through.'

Macca’s comments hint he is prepared to take on a long-term involvement with the club, although he admits he has not set a timescale for his plans, but gets a buzz out of bringing younger players through the ranks into the first team.

'I don’t know how long it will all take because I’ve never been in this job before but there’s no time like the present to make a start on it. It’s not a warning to any of the existing players. It’s my first managerial job and that’s how I want to go about it. The most important thing in a professional club this size is to get results at the top, in the first team but my domain is the whole football club and I’ve got to make it better.

'There is nothing better for a young manager like myself to come in and see young players getting into the team because I was there myself. The likes of Pipey, McSheffrey and Eddie Stanford and a few others have been pushed through. We want to show them there is light at the end of the tunnel and keep progressing and we want them to work with better quality players as well."

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Richie Partridge has become a fans’ favourite in the short time he’s been with Sky Blues as he enjoys the opportunity to terrorise Division One full-backs.

The wing wizard is with the Sky Blues until the end of the season and in eight starts has scored two goals as well as exciting crowds with his skill and pace.

With the exception of a brief loan spell with Bristol Rovers Richie is currently experiencing his longest continued run of first team football and feels he is benefiting from it.

'I’ve settled in well. The couple of goals have helped and the only disappointing thing is we haven’t put a good string of results together, which we’re capable of doing. That’s what we’re looking to work on and hopefully starting Saturday we can go from there.

'My game is staying out wide and I’m lucky that we’re playing a system here which allows me to do that and I’ve got people like the gaffer and Eustace and Safri to get the ball out to me. As long as I’m getting the ball and am given the opportunity to run at players I’ll always enjoy my game. Thankfully since I’ve come down here I’ve been given the opportunity to do that.

'I relish pressure and being a winger the main objective is to put chances on a plate for other people. You may look to get about 10 goals yourself in a season but I see how well I’ve done by looking at how many chances I’ve made.

'Macca is brilliant both on and off the field. On the pitch you know if you make a run he’ll pick you out with his vision and ability, but also if you do things wrong he knows the right manner to tell you. I’m a fella who just needs to be told whereas others need a good rollicking. The gaffer knows what to do with certain players.

'I’m 22 now and I’ve only just started to put a string of First Division games under my belt. It’s pretty much the only league football I’ve got apart from a spell at Bristol Rovers but I’m always learning and I’m sure the next few games and the next season will benefit me an awful lot. Nothing beats experience and that’s what I’ve come here to get.

'Once you hit 21,22 or 23 you need to be playing first team football. You’re young and fit and although you probably won’t peak until you’re 26 or 27 it is a crucial time. That’s why I took the opportunity to come down here and get the experience.'

Richie is not too concerned with City’s lack of punch in front of goal and is confident things will come good if the team continue playing the way they are.

'We need to get more goals but it’s difficult when strikers are going through a bad spell and not scoring and it can be hard to come out the back end of it. Once the likes of Millsy get one they’ll get a handful, I’m sure of it. It happens at every club and to every player in every country. Once they start going in – and it might be a sloppy one of somebody’s knee or shoulder – we’ll start turning good performances into results.'