Coventry City receive January boost - "there's a buzz" around this player | OneFootball

Carl Rushworth has been an inspired loan signing for the Sky Blues

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Coventry City are in pole position when it comes to ending their lengthy hiatus from the Premier League, as Frank Lampard continues to work wonders at the CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues missed out on promotion through the play-offs for the second time in three seasons last term after succumbing to a dramatic semi-final defeat to Sunderland, but have certainly not felt sorry for themselves this time around.

In recent years, under both Lampard and his predecessor, Mark Robins, the West Midlands outfit have received high levels of praise when it comes to their recruitment strategy.

This, in particular, was evident in the summer of 2023 when City were able to reshape their squad after making high-profile profits on current Arsenal striker, Viktor Gyokeres and Sheffield United playmaker, Gustavo Hamer.

Having the foundations of an already strong Championship side meant that Lampard didn't feel the need to rip up his squad throughout his first pre-season at the CBS, instead focusing on minimal additions that would still add further high-end second tier experience and quality, as well as viewing their overall potential.

And, as we approach the so often decisive Christmas and New Year period, which coincides with the reopening of the transfer window, Coventry supporters, such as Football League World's Sky Blues fan pundit, Chris Deez, have been reacting to the timely boost surrounding Brighton and Hove Albion loanee, Carl Rushworth, who is set to spend the full season away from the AMEX Stadium.

Indeed, it has been widely reported that no recall clause was inserted in the deal which saw Rushworth make yet another temporary switch to the Championship, having previously been on the books of Swansea City and Hull City.

Whilst the Sky Blues have been free-scoring throughout the first half of Lampard's first full season at the club, largely down to a 7-1 mauling of Queens Park Rangers in August, the Halifax-born shot-stopper has been deserving of his fair share of plaudits too, as City possess one of the strongest defensive records in the Championship thus far.

It was a timely decision by Lampard to recruit the England youth international, who had previously emerged on Thomas Tuchel's radar for a maiden senior call-up, given Oliver Dovin's injury back in March, a decision which saw Sky Blues favourite, Ben Wilson, return to the substitutes' bench after featuring in the final weeks of last season.

As such, Deez believes that the news of Rushworth staying for the remainder of City's promotion bid is akin to making a high-profile signing in the coming weeks.

"Honestly, it's as good as bringing in another signing, learning that we are in no danger of Rushworth going back to Brighton in January," he told FLW.

"Oliver Dovin is still out. We were gutted when he got injured, and there were some concerns about Ben Wilson being next in line.

"I like Wilson, don't get me wrong. But, for the heights we were aiming for this season, we always needed a slight upgrade.

"Rushworth came in, there was a buzz around him, and he's been our Player of the Season," Deez claimed. "The amount of points he's won us by keeping us in games and pulling up top saves.

"He's the best goalkeeper we've had in quite a long time," our fan pundit added.

"If we go up, I'd desperately hope there's some sort of option for us to buy him. Anywhere around £20m, maybe up to £30m, he'd be a bargain.

"He's proven his worth. I know the Championship is obviously a different class to the Premier League.

"He would likely struggle against Haaland in the Premier League. But, he's been a great player for us.

"As great as Dovin is, if Rushworth went back and Dovin came back in after being out injured for over six months, I think we'd have really struggled," Deez stated.

"Keeping Rushworth and keeping that consistency, team spirit and momentum, moving forward, is vital to our Premier League aspirations."

Carl Rushworth could remain at Coventry City on one clear condition

As well as it being a huge boost to Coventry's promotion hopes that Rushworth will not be departing in January, Sky Blues supporters will have been overjoyed to learn that the 24-year-old could become a permanent member of Lampard's squad if promotion is achieved.

The goalkeeper is yet to make his top-flight bow despite being regarded as one of England's most highly-rated figures to keep net, and it remains to be seen if he will ever force his way into Fabian Hurzeler's long-term plans on the South Coast.

In the short-term, though, clarity on his current loan deal will also mean there are no distractions for City in the upcoming block of fixtures, as Rushworth looks to continue his inspired form.