Coventry City striker Noel Whelan has admitted that time is against him as he attempts to get fit in time to face former club Leeds United.

The 24-year-old damaged ankle ligaments in City’s home defeat against Manchester United, and tests have now revealed that he has also strained his Achilles tendon.

Now the former Elland Road favourite is undergoing daily treatment with the club’s physiotherapist but is not holding out too much hope of figuring in Gordon Strachan’s squad.

He said:

"When I did the injury I was told that it would be three to four weeks before I could play again, which to be honest with you I was quite pleased about because I thought it was worse than that.

"However, there is damage to the ligaments and to the Achilles which has hurt before so I have irritated an old injury which can complicate things.

"At the moment it is looking very unlikely that I will be fit for the Leeds game, which is a shame because I was looking forward to playing against my old side.

"Darren Huckerby will be playing for them as well and it would have been nice to have pitted my wits against him but that is the way it goes."

And Whelan is now hoping to return as soon as possible and open his goal account for the season.

"I just want to get back and start scoring goals because I feel as if I have been doing ok so far but just not getting that bit of luck that you need.

"Last season I set myself a target of 15 goals and I was just two short of that, so that is what I will be going for again, although hopefully I will get past that and into the 20’s."