Today’s top-of-the-table clash between Stoke and Coventry City will make for fascinating viewing for a number of reasons, not least the fact that Mark Robins signed at least 14 of the players expected to feature in Frank Lampard’s match day squad.

That’s likely to include nine of the Sky Blues ’ starting eleven at the Bet365 Stadium and it would have been ten if the legendary City boss had got his way in the summer of 2023 when he attempted to bring Matt Grimes to the CBS Arena.

The 30-year-old eventually moved to the West Midlands club last January as Lampard’s first permanent capture, and is clearly a player whom Robins greatly admires.

Asked about the interest, the Coventry captain – who has been an outstanding addition to Lampard’s side – admitted there had been what he describe

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