Sunderland welcome Coventry City in the Championship this weekend, as the Sky Blues prepare for life after Mark Robins.
Coventry City sacked Mark Robins on Thursday in what was a shock to many Sky Blues fans who, in the last seven years, have witnessed a lot of success under the Championship’s previous longest-serving manager.
Robins has taken Coventry City from League Two to the Championship, even reaching the play-off final in 2023. But defeat against Derby County last time out leaves them in 17th place of the Championship table.
Sunderland meanwhile are in 1st. Regis Le Bris now has a fresh headache with Robins’ departure surely throwing out a lot of the Black Cats’ preparation for this weekend’s game at the Stadium of Light.
Last time out, Sunderland drew 0-0 against Preston in what was a frustrating evening at Deepdale.
Ellis Simms an injury doubt for Coventry City’s trip to Sunderland
Ellis Simms is a name that’ll be very familiar to Sunderland fans, with the big striker having spent time on loan at Sunderland during the first half of the 2022/23 season.
The Black Cats signed Simms on loan from Everton upon their return to the Championship and the now 23-year-old enjoyed a prolific spell on Wearside, scoring seven goals in 17 total games.
He was recalled by Everton midway through that season. In the summer of 2023 though, Simms secured an £8million move to Coventry City where last season he scored 13 goals in 46 Championship appearances.
Simms has missed the Sky Blues’ last two games with a foot injury. Speaking to Coventry Live before his sacking, Robins was asked if there was an update on Simms, to which he replied: “No, nothing as yet.
“It’s just something that’s down to him and his management of the pain, so we have to wait and see.”
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How close Sunderland came to re-signing Ellis Simms before Coventry City move
It’s no secret that Sunderland were keen on bringing Simms back after his initial loan spell, either on another loan deal or on a permanent deal.
In the end, Coventry appeared to blow everyone out of the water with their £8million deal for Simms, who’s been described as ‘incredible’ by Robins in the past.
In the summer of 2023, it was revealed that Simms was open to a Sunderland return, but the price tag was the main sticking point from the Black Cats’ viewpoint.
Sunderland didn’t want to get into a bidding war for Simms and in the end appeared turned to the likes of Luis Hemir, Mason Burstow, and Nazariy Rusyn during the summer window, who all flopped for Kristjaan Speakman.