Coventry v Plymouth. Match preview

Last updated : 15 November 2008 By Paul Stevens

The 28-year-old former Stoke and Sunderland defender suffered an Achilles injury just two games into the season but is back in contention for Chris Coleman's side having emerged unscathed from two reserve outings.

Striker Leon McKenzie is also close to a first-team recall after recovering from a torn thigh muscle sustained in the warm up against Wolves last month.

However he is unlikely to be risked for the game against Argyle and is more likely to return in the Sky Blues' fixture against Sheffield Wednesday next week.

Striker Leon Best (ankle) and Jay Tabb (ribs) are both fit after shaking off slight injuries and will feature.

Chris Coleman's side have won just once in their last six games and sit 17th in the Championship table.

Plymouth are without suspended top scorer Paul Gallagher for the trip.

Gallagher - at Plymouth on a season-long loan from Blackburn - is banned after receiving his fifth caution of the season in last

Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Charlton.

The Scotland international forward's most likely replacement is Emile Mpenza, the former Manchester City striker who came off the bench to score a dramatic late equaliser with his first touch last weekend.

It was Mpenza's first goal for the club since arriving at Home Park early in September.

Argyle are still likely to be without Hungarian centre-back Krisztian Timar (knee) and former Coventry full-back David McNamee but on-loan French winger Nicolas Marin has shrugged off the back injury, which ruled him out last weekend.

Sporting Life.