Coventry City: Arrival of £4.25m man may lead to significant Mark Robins decision - View | OneFootball

Coventry City have been through a real rollercoaster of emotions in the last two seasons, but 2024-25 could be the most exciting yet.

Mark Robins has done a fantastic job with the Sky Blues over the last few years, guiding them to a Championship play-off final and a ninth-placed finish in the last two seasons. That is without mentioning their unprecedented FA Cup run this season which saw them reach the semi-finals at Wembley before losing out to Man United on penalties.

The Sky Blues would have hoped for another top six finish this season, but it just wasn't to be as they now prepare for the following campaign.

The attacking duo of Haji Wright and Ellis Simms tore the league apart at times this season for Coventry, with Simms finally finding his feet in the second half of the camapign, and they will certainly be looking to do the same next season.

However, the introduction of a new, exciting winger provides Robins with another solid attacking option, leaving him with a rather big dilemma.

Based on this season's performances, Wright and Simms have to be nailed-on starters, with 29 goals between them in the league, but new incoming Ephron Mason-Clark has already showed why he should also be in that starting 11 for next season.

Coventry City's addition of Ephron Mason-Clark gives Mark Robins a new dilemma

Mason-Clark has been one of many standout performers for Peterborough United over the last two seasons as the club have achieved back-to-back play-off finishes in League One, with the winger really stepping it up a gear this past season though, scoring 19 goals and grabbing 14 assists in all competitions.

As a result, he caught the eye of many clubs, and very late on in the January transfer window, Coventry City came calling as they looked to strengthen their attacking options.

On Deadline Day, a deal worth £4.25 million was agreed between the two clubs despite Peterborough's initial £5 million valuation.

The price was knocked down though as it was a non-negotiable by United chairman Darragh MacAnthony that Mason-Clark spent the remainder of the campaign on loan at London Road in order to help them towards a play-off finish.

Soon after re-signing for the Posh, he scored a goal in three consecutive League One games, and Coventry would have been licking their lips imagining what is to come next season.

Now that the season has ended, Mason-Clark is set to link up with his new Sky Blues squad ahead of - what is sure to be - an exciting Championship campaign for the club.

If they are able to build on what they achieved this season, Coventry could be looking at the play-offs for next campaign, and Mason-Clark will be looking to play a big part in that.

This leaves manager, Mark Robins, with some big decisions to make in terms of his starting eleven.

Mark Robins must find a way of using all of his biggest Coventry City weapons

New man Mason-Clark typically plays off the left-wing for Peterborough, and has seemingly mastered his trade at League One level.

However, in the current Coventry side, that is a role that has often been occupied by Haji Wright, despite him being a natural striker.

Usually, Robins opts for a formation that involves a lone striker, which over the last couple months has rightfully been Ellis Simms thanks to his form.

So, if Mason-Clark is going to walk straight into the team, what does this mean for Haji Wright?

If Coventry really want to go for it next season, they must attempt to get Haji Wright, Ellis Simms and Ephron Mason-Clark in the same starting 11. This may call for a slight formation change as it would be quite difficult to get the best out of all three in Robins' 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 formation.

A simple 4-4-2 formation may be the way forward for Coventry next season, even if it's somewhat outdated in 2024 and hardly used at Championship level.

We know how good Wright can be on the left-wing, but Mason-Clark absolutely deserves to start in that position, meaning Wright may return to his natural number nine position alongside Simms, who was prolific in the second half of this season.

It could also lead to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto returning to the side to occupy the right wing role in that 4-4-2 formation.

The Japanese winger missed the last couple months of the season through injury, but before his spell on the sidelines he scored seven goals from that side of the pitch.

If Mark Robins is able to include Mason-Clark in the starting 11, while keeping Haji Wright and Ellis Simms in there, he could be looking at one of the most feared attacks in the Championship next season - even when Callum O'Hare inevitably departs.

Of course, the side will attempt to strengthen elsewhere in the summer window, but things are already looking up for Coventry City ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.