MX23RW : Wednesday, December 2 15:01:05| >> :120:53785:53785:

Mark Robins: 'Change of substitution rule benefits bigger clubs'

Mark Robins: 'Change of substitution rule benefits bigger clubs'
© Reuters
The new regulations come into force in time for the Sky Blues' match against Birmingham on Friday night.

Coventry boss Mark Robins believes the Sky Bet Championship's bigger clubs will reap the benefits of the new five substitutes rule.

Under the new regulations – which come into force in time for the Sky Blues' match against Birmingham on Friday night – teams in the Sky Bet Championship will be able to make five changes from a pool of nine substitutes.

EFL clubs voted to increase the permitted number to combat player fatigue, and Robins told Coventry's website: "The rule benefits the bigger squads and the bigger clubs without a shadow of a doubt, but it gives us another tool, we can work with it and try and make the best of it.

"How people are going to use it remains to be seen.

"It was brought in because of fatigue to players so you can take players off if they're really struggling, but you've got to have players who can come on and strengthen your team which is where it favours the bigger squads and bigger clubs."

Coventry will still be without striker Matt Godden when they host their landlords at St Andrew's as he nurses a foot injury sustained against Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

Midfielder Jordan Shipley is available after a period of self-isolation but Fankaty Dabo is a doubt after lower back and hamstring issues.

Birmingham boss Aitor Karanka agreed with his counterpart.

He told the Birmingham Mail: "I think the more quality you have the more chances you have to put good players on the pitch.

"But it is true for the teams who can't afford more than 16/17 players it isn't going to be bad because you can rest five players in the last few minutes to defend and you can rest those other five for the following game."

Blues are boosted by the return of George Friend and Kristian Pedersen for the match.

The defensive duo missed the defeat to Bournemouth last time out, with Pedersen taking a knock to his head and Friend struggling with a calf problem.

Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter is available for the first time.

ID:422893:cQx

Click here for more stories about Mark Robins

Click here for more stories about Coventry City

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
New Watford boss Vladimir Ivic on September 11, 2020
Read Next:
Vladimir Ivic: 'Watford must concentrate better'
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Read more about Mark Robins Football

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Champions League
Championship
League One
League Two
National League
National League North
National League South
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Welsh Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
MLS Playoffs
NFL
1am
Ravens
@
Steelers
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich148421811728
2Bournemouth157622516927
3Bristol City158341915427
4Brentford157532213926
5Swansea CitySwansea14752168826
6Reading148242318526
7Watford136521811723
8Stoke CityStoke146442118322
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn1463527161121
10Middlesbrough13562148621
11Cardiff CityCardiff155552013720
12Millwall144821210220
13Barnsley155461717019
14Preston North EndPreston156182023-319
15Luton TownLuton145451117-619
16Huddersfield TownHuddersfield155371822-418
17Queens Park RangersQPR154561722-517
18Birmingham CityBirmingham153751114-316
19Coventry CityCoventry153571525-1014
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham153481420-613
21Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest14338917-812
22Wycombe WanderersWycombe14248720-1310
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds14356712-58
24Derby CountyDerby15159722-158

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!