Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka is available to make his highly anticipated debut for the club this coming Monday. The Super Eagles star arrived at the Championship side on a loan agreement from Brentford during the final hours of the winter transfer window. Although fans expected him to feature in last weekend’s home draw against Oxford United, the club granted Onyeka compassionate leave to attend the birth of his second child, a baby boy.
The defensive specialist rejoined his teammates at the training ground this week, demonstrating the sharpness necessary to enter the matchday squad. Lampard expressed total confidence in Onyeka’s physical condition and readiness to contribute immediately to the Sky Blues’ promotion charge. The manager highlighted that the midfielder’s recent short absence did not hinder his integration into the tactical setup.
“Yeah, he’s ready to go. He had a couple of days off, had the baby on Sunday/Monday, so yeah, he’s training with us,” Lampard told the Coventry Telegraph during his pre-match press conference.
The timing of Onyeka’s return provides a significant boost for Coventry as they prepare for a critical top-of-the-table encounter at the Coventry Building Society Arena. The Sky Blues currently occupy second place in the Sky Bet Championship standings, trailing only Monday’s opponents, Middlesbrough, in a heated race for automatic promotion to the Premier League. Victory in this fixture would allow Lampard’s men to reclaim the summit and establish a vital psychological advantage over their title rivals.
Onyeka brings a wealth of top-flight and international experience to the Midlands, having featured regularly for Brentford in the Premier League and represented Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. His ability to disrupt play and provide defensive stability in the center of the park is expected to be a key asset for Coventry during the final months of the season. Supporters eagerly await the official lineup on Monday evening to see if the newly arrived powerhouse will start the match.
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