Coventry City face pivotal weekend while stretched to almost breaking point in midfield following the latest injury casualty. Fans are yet to learn the full extent of Victor Torp’s calf issue that forced him off at half-time in the 1-0 win at Stoke at the weekend – a result that came at the end of an impressive week of taking seven points from three testing games in the space seven gruelling days.

The Sky Blues are already without their best midfielder, Ben Sheaf, and hugely reliable and energetic Jamie Allen – both of whom are out for another five to six weeks with a hamstring strain and fractured cheekbone, respectively. That leaves Mark Robins down to two fit senior players in Josh Eccles and Liam Kelly, and versatile defender Joel Latibeaudiere, who has been filling in admirably as City have been stretched in the middle of the park in recent weeks.

The threadbare side face in-form Preston North End on Friday night, with the Lilywhites travelling to the CBS Arena on the back of a five game unbeaten run that has seen them win three and draw two. City are currently clinging on to sixth spot, with Norwich and Hull snapping at their heels – all three teams on 51 points but Coventry being in the play-off places due to a superior goal difference.

North End, meanwhile, are just two points behind on 49 and a win this weekend would see them leapfrog the Sky Blues in the table.