WARD OUT OF SAINTS CLASH

Ward - won't feature

Coventry look set to be without Elliott Ward for the visit of Southampton on Saturday.

The influential centre-half limped off with a groin strain midway through Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at Cardiff, and is rated extremely doubtful.

Ben Turner is also sidelined with an ankle injury, so the experienced Marcus Hall is expected to fill in at the back for Chris Coleman's men.

Meanwhile, Leon Best is pushing for a starting place, after Coleman admitted he is tempted to shake up his forward line.

The Sky Blues boss told the Coventry Telegraph: "Leon comes into my thinking, not because we are up against his old club but because he is itching to play and the other guys are doing everything but score."

Stern John is doubtful, while new signing Ryan Smith is in the squad.

Striker John, who made 88 appearances for the Sky Blues, missed the midweek Championship win over Norwich with a slight hamstring tweak but could make the bench at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

On-loan Jordan Robertson will expect to keep his place in attack after his goalscoring debut on Tuesday night while 22-year-old winger Smith has arrived on a three-month loan from Millwall.

Skipper Michael Svensson is back in full training having rested his troublesome knee and should be available.

Paul Wotton and Simon Gillett missed the Norwich game with knocks and could return but fellow midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin (hamstring) will be out for another couple of weeks.

Winger Lee Holmes (knee) and midfielder Jason Euell (shoulder) remain long-term absentees.