Frank Lampard seeks redemption as Coventry City manager

Like Rooney at Plymouth Argyle, Lampard has clearly not let bad experiences make him shy away from proving his doubters as a manager wrong.

He will have weighed up his next, potentially defining, move very carefully. He will see the potential at Coventry while realising he may not be able to afford another wrong move.

Lampard has been humble and realistic enough to return to the division where he started his managerial career, embarking on what will be a personal rehabilitation, knowing failure is not an option.

He will also know, from previous experience with Derby County, that this is a fiendishly difficult division to get out of.

The task will be to improve a talented squad that has been under-performing, leading to them currently lying 17th in the Championship, two points above the relegation places.

King clearly believes there is more Lampard can prise from the players he inherits. They have shown their potential by winning 3-0 at Middlesbrough and coming from 2-0 down to beat Luton Town 3-2, as well as recent draws with promotion-chasing Sunderland and Sheffield United.

Lampard worked with Coventry striker Ellis Simms at Everton and will be aware he can be a potent force in the Championship. He has struggled for consistency but Lampard will hope to get the best out of the talented 23-year-old.

He has also shown a willingness to develop and blood young talent at previous clubs so he will take a keen interest in Norman Bassette, 20, who scored against Sheffield United.

Brandon Thomas-Asante’s move from West Brom last summer has not lived up to expectations yet. Lampard will look to Thomas-Asante and United States international Haji Wright to provided added threat.

Lampard may also need to work on Coventry’s defence, which has been too generous since their return to the Championship. In 204 games since returning to the division in 2020-21, Coventry have scored 261 goals but conceded 251, keeping 59 clean sheets.

Coventry are currently 10 points off the play-offs, so this season may simply be about consolidation with the players at his disposal.

But Lampard is fiercely ambitious and his standing within the game may well attract players who will have been beyond the club’s compass before.

Lampard, backed by King after signing a two-and-a-half year deal and armed with his trusted backroom team of Joe Edwards and Chris Jones, will have room for manoeuvre in January as Coventry currently have no loan players.

It is now down to Lampard to deliver.