Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed that he has a plan should Adam Armstrong return to Newcastle, reports the Coventry Telegraph.

Coventry are prepared for Armstrong's potential departure
Coventry are prepared for Armstrong's potential departure

The 18-year old Geordie has been in superb form for the Sky Blues this season, scoring eight goals in nine games and rumours were rife that Newcastle would recall the striker due to their poor start to the campaign.

While Steve McClaren says he won't recall Armstrong early, Mowbray has said he needs to be prepared for his departure with his loan deal set to expire in January.

"You need top strikers, people with the ability to score goals so he's hugely important to us and fans," said the former Celtic and Middlesbrough manager to Coventry Telegraph.

"We obviously have to prepare for the day he's not with us because, at the end of the day, he's a Newcastle player.

"Obviously we hope that's at the end of the season but if it is January we need to have someone who can come in and replace him and continue on a goal scoring vein.

Mowbray says that having a goal scorer in form like the teenage Armstrong is crucial to Coventry's strong start to the season, and that is why they need to be prepared for the teenage strikers departure.

"I mentioned after the games at Fleetwood and Yeovil that strikers are such an important factor in your football team.

"We can go to Yeovil and lots of the ball around the edge of the box and yet someone like Armstrong can step inside and whack it in the top corner with his left foot. It just makes football easier for you.

"That's why recruitment departments are hugely important for us and we're not gambling on names that agents throw at you.

"You have to do some homework on players who you think are of a similar type."

Coventry would undoubtedly struggle to replace the goals from Armstrong with their limited budget, but Mowbray clearly has faith in those involved in the recruitment process to find the right player.

Coventry are currently fifth in Sky Bet League One and have had a fantastic start to the season under Mowbray, collecting 22 points from 11 games.

Coventry fans........What do you make of Mowbray's comments? How damaging would it be to lose Armstrong? Who would you like to see replace him if he does leave? Let us know what you think in the comments below!