With Friday’s play-off semi-final second leg against Notts County fast approaching, Coventry City have been boosted by Michael Doyle’s insistence that he will be fit and able to play as per the Coventry Telegraph.

The Sky Blues’ captain responded to concerns over his limping at the end of the first leg:

“I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine.

“It’s just one of them, it’s part and parcel of it.

“They are a big physical side and put themselves about but you just have to stand up to it.”

The news will be music to the ears of Coventry boss Mark Robins. The 36-year old veteran skipper has been an integral part of the side and was one of the best players on the pitch. His ability to keep going and work hard throughout belied his years.

Showing true commitment to the cause is almost expected of Doyle by now. Earlier on in the season, he played through a medial knee ligament injury against Milton Keynes and Cambridge. He commented:

“I failed a fitness test that day (ahead of Cambridge) and then Ben Stevenson phoned in sick the day before transfer deadline day, saying he wasn’t well, so I had to play and tried not to get on the ball and managed to get through the game.”

In total, the Coventry skipper has only missed three games across all competitions so far this season and appears unlikely to miss another.

The Verdict

This will be a great relief to Mark Robins and the team. Doyle has been hugely influential and his endless energy acts as a dynamo that keeps the Coventry car going. Without him, it would be hard to see Coventry driving up to Wembley. With him, they stand a real chance.