Coventry City have received a significant injury boost, with the initial prognosis not being as catastrophic as first thought.

Mark Robins has been encouraged by the news that “one or two” of his injured Coventry City players may not be out as long as first anticipated. The Sky Blues manager confirmed earlier this week that Ben Sheaf, Kasey Palmer (both adductor strains), and Milan van Ewijk (quad tear) would all be out for six to eight weeks.

However, when asked in today’s pre-match news conference before of Saturday’s trip to Queens Park Rangers if any of his injured players are getting closer to returning, he said: “Yes, there are a few more positive signs, so I’m sort of hopeful on that.” Tomorrow is too soon for them, but I am hopeful that we will be able to start next week.

Mark Robins has been encouraged by the news that “one or two” of his injured Coventry City players may not be out as long as first anticipated. The Sky Blues manager confirmed earlier this week that Ben Sheaf, Kasey Palmer (both adductor strains), and Milan van Ewijk (quad tear) would all be out for six to eight weeks.

However, when asked in today’s pre-match news conference before of Saturday’s trip to Queens Park Rangers if any of his injured players are getting closer to returning, he said: “Yes, there are a few more positive signs, so I’m sort of hopeful on that.” Tomorrow is too soon for them, but I am hopeful that we will be able to start next week.

“They have to be correct, tick boxes, and get themselves back to a position where they have minimised the chances of re-injury and all that sort of thing.” But I’m more optimistic now that it won’t take as long as we feared. But, once again, I am being guided by those who know more than I do.”

Despite a scan revealing a’significant’ tear in Van Ewijk’s quadricep muscle in his thigh, the player was not in any pain, suggesting he could be one of the players on his way back.

Callum O’Hare has been back in full contact training for a couple of weeks, but it’s far too early for the attacking midfielder to be involved, with the likelihood that he’ll be given a run out in the Under-21s before making the first team bench after missing nine months with a ruptured ACL.