The 9 players set to miss Coventry City v Stoke City | OneFootball

Nine players are set to miss Coventry City's fixture with Stoke City at the CBS Arena on Saturday

At one point in the season, it looked like Coventry City and Stoke City would be neck-and-neck for a place in the top two come the end of the season, but since then, things have changed ever so slightly.

In the reverse fixture at the bet365 Stadium earlier this campaign, it wasn’t 2nd place versus 1st place, as it would be Coventry who ran out as 1-0 victors courtesy of Ephron Mason-Clark’s late acrobatic effort, sealing all three points for the Sky Blues.

Whilst both sides have suffered difficult spells of form since then, Stoke’s has certainly been longer-lasting and more damaging than Coventry’s, with Frank Lampard’s side still top of the table whilst Stoke had slipped to as low as 16th recently.

Coming into this one, Coventry have won three on the spin, whilst the Potters claimed their first league victory in seven in their most recent outing at home to Oxford.

The Sky Blues’ injury list looks relatively clean aside from one long-term injury, whereas Stoke still has numerous first-team players out of action, as FLW takes a look at all absentees for Mark Robins’ return to the CBS Arena on Saturday.

9 ? ? Oliver Dovin

The only player that looks to be out of action for Coventry in this fixture is Swedish goalkeeper Oliver Dovin.

The former Hammarby shot-stopper has been in the treatment room for nearly a year now after suffering a serious knee injury in March 2025 away to Sheffield United.

Carl Rushworth joined on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer and has performed admirably in his absence, with the Swede likely not to be too much of a miss for Lampard and Coventry on Saturday.

8 ? ? Divin Mubama

The first of numerous absentees for the away side, Divin Mubama has been out of action since needing to be stretchered off in January in Stoke’s goalless draw at home to QPR.

It was initially feared that a broken leg had been sustained, but it was confirmed to be less serious than that, although the Manchester City loanee is not expected to be back leading the line anytime soon.

7 ? ? Gavin Bazunu

Joining on loan from Southampton in January to cover for another absentee on this list, Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu managed just one game for the Potters before picking up a thigh injury in training, leaving him out for six weeks.

Tommy Simkin has deputised in goal ever since and done well, although Robins will be keen to have the former Manchester City man back in action sooner rather than later to boost his available options.

6 ? ? Junior Tchamadeu

One of Stoke’s most pivotal players this campaign, Junior Tchamadeu, picked up a knee injury whilst away with Cameroon at AFCON and has been on the road to recovery ever since.

His presence and ability to overlap from right-back have been crucial to the way Robins’ side has played this campaign, and though he looks to be close to returning to action, this fixture may just be too soon for him.

5 ? ? Lewis Baker

Approaching four months on the injury table, midfielder Lewis Baker, on his day, can be the most influential player on the pitch, with his ability to find the back of the net out of nowhere hugely vital in tight affairs.

The former Chelsea man had scored four and assisted once in 12 league appearances prior to his injury, and like Tchamadeu, looks to be ready to return to action soon, but again, this trip to the CBS Arena may be too early for Baker.

4 ? ? Robert Bozenik

As Robert Bozenik was finally finding his feet in the Championship following his summer move from Portuguese side Boavista, a freak shoulder injury away at Hull City, not long after scoring his first goal for the club, has meant he has missed nearly three months in the treatment room.

He has since had surgery on that injured shoulder, though he is not expected to return in the immediate future, as the Slovak is one of three injuries in the striker department in the Potteries.

3 ? ? Sam Gallagher

The third and final injury to strikers in the Potters squad, Sam Gallagher, has been embroiled with injuries ever since making the move to Staffordshire from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2024.

The 30-year-old has been unavailable for more games than he has been available for since his move to the Potters, and has been out of action since Stoke’s 1-0 win over the Sky Blues in the FA Cup in mid-January, and is not expected back just yet.

2 ? ? Viktor Johansson

The Potters’ best player last season by a country mile, a huge reason why they retained their status in the Championship, and arguably the best goalkeeper in the division, unless you ask the home side in this fixture, Viktor Johansson sustained a shoulder injury at the end of 2025, meaning the Swede required surgery just like teammate Bozenik.

The aforementioned Simkin has deputised in his absence, with the former Rotherham United man not expected to return between the sticks anytime soon.

1 ? ? Bosun Lawal

Injured for the bulk of his first season at the club following his move from Celtic in the summer of 2024, when fit, Irish defender Bosun Lawal has been one of the club's standout performers this campaign.

Having played at centre-back, right-back, left-back, and defensive-midfield this season due to injuries elsewhere, Lawal’s versatility has proved vital for Robins and Stoke, though his necessity to use the 22-year-old has meant Lawal has picked up another injury, though it is unclear as to how long he will be out for at this stage.