When you are already fighting for your life against the rising tide of relegation, the last thing you need is to hand over gift-wrapped opportunities to arguably the most feared marksmen in the division. Huddersfield Town’s backline obviously didn’t get the memo on Saturday afternoon, however; Neil Warnock’s toothless Terriers left bitten and bruised by the irrepressible Viktor Gyokeres.
“(Gyokeres’ first ) is a brilliant goal. An outstanding finish,” Coventry City boss Mark Robins beams, the Sweden international setting the Sky Blues on their way to a thumping 4-0 win with a delightful dinked finish (Coventry Live).
“I’m really pleased that I’ve seen him practising things and then execute them in a game. You didn’t really doubt him. Sometimes he goes through into those positions and it’s whether he picks the right finish or not. He’s done it brilliantly today.
“He’s getting into good positions and he is finishing with lots of confidence.”
Leeds United like Coventry City talisman Viktor Gyokeres
The always-honest Warnock, before the game, described Gyokeres as the best striker in the Championship and suggested that Coventry are likely to have a fight on their hands retaining his services with goal-shy Leeds United reportedly putting the 24-year-old right at the top of their summer wishlist (TEAMtalk).
Of course, promotion to the Premier League would give Coventry’s hopes of an extended Gyokeres stay a substantial boost. And, unlikely as it may have seemed only a few weeks ago, promotion is hardly out of the question.
Gyokeres’ latest centre-forward masterclass – taking his tally to 18 with a brace in West Yorkshire before turning provider for Tyler Walker – lifts Coventry up to eighth. The gap between themselves and the play-off places now stands at just three points.
“Look, he’s brilliant. He’s a brilliant kid as well,” Robins adds, Gyokeres likened to fellow Scandinavian stat-padder Erling Haaland recently. “He’s just phenomenal.
“There’s still loads of learning there as well. He’s 24 years of age. For a striker it’s very young but he’s doing everything that you’d want him to do. He’s got a chance but hopefully we can keep hold of him because we want to progress ourselves as a football club.”
The prospect of Coventry returning to the Premier League after over 20 years ago might still seem fanciful. But as long as the league’s most in-form number nine is leading the line, write off Robins’ overachievers at your peril.
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