Robson said, "He's got a touch of shin splints. He's now got two weeks to get it right and the fact that he's suspended will help him to get over that. He had an operation last season on the sheath of the calf muscle and was out for seven or eight weeks. This is a different injury but it's in a similar area."

He added, "But we just have to hope we can get it right. The last thing we need is another one out with a long-term injury. He's been on ice for 24 hours and he passed a fitness test at 10am on the pitch. He didn't even warm up before the game because we didn't want any exercise on his muscles."

On the game itself, Robson continued, "It was a little bit of a ding-dong without much music but we've ground out a result. We got off to a marvellous start when Gary Speed did what he can do regularly if the ball is placed correctly for him and then it developed into a scruffy sort of football match. They had chances and missed them, we had chances and missed them, but then we got what I would call two marvellous football goals, and in the second-half we picked up the game and gave the public a smile, and I think that pleased everybody."

Coventry boss Gordon Strachan was not happy with his team, who wasted a number of golden chances in the second half and he said, "I've come here with Manchester United and Leeds United and never made as many chances as that. I've come here previously four times as manager of this club and, if you put the four games together, never made as many clear-cut chances as that."

He added, " But I think that was an example of how we've been playing lately. If I'd got up this morning and thought we were going to make as many chances as that, I would have been more than happy, and to come away with no points is very disappointing. They've got good players, but Kieron Dyer is an exceptional talent. If he was on my side today, we'd have won the game easily

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2001

Answers

Dont want to worry you all, but isnt that what happend to Andy Cole before he moved to Man Utd? He was also linked in the press for lower than realistic prices.

Could a fergie agent be playing games? Could he have influenced Young Kieron? Influenced him to play injured to keep his price down so he can lurk then pounce with an offer?

I know I'm paranoid but hey you've got to ask questions, to get answers.

I think its about time wor Freddy started playing this game with his club associate agents. Come on Freddy lets give a price on Dyer way out of all the premiership clubs reaches. Price him at 30million and use the press to amplify. This 12million is a very cheeky insult to the stature of our club.

Or it could be another injury, an injury to another star.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2001

IMHO that Dyer will eventually move to a second striker position both at club and country level, or at a push in the slot behind. Have this feeling that in midfield there is just a slight percentage of his game not up to it, it would be interesting to find out where all his admirers in the EPL and SERIE A would play him. Playing alongside a novice striker has done more for him both mentally and football wise than anything he could learn at the Riverside , he`s a good un.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

"Playing alongside a novice striker has done more for him both mentally and football wise than anything he could learn at the Riverside..."

You're so right, Buff - he has visibly matured as a player with the added responsibility, and become a genuine match-winner all of a sudden. It would be tragic for both him and the Club if this shin problem were now to rob him of keeping it going.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

But it would be typical of our luck.

Get well soon, Kieron!

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

Actually, him playing on while in pain, inperilling a certain England call-up, spoke volumes for the lad's committment. I'm impressed. Also, separately but relatedly, this playing up front thing has been great for him in terms of making him focus on his finishing.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001