No one was more surprised than Colin Hendry to line up against championship chasing Leeds United yesterday, unless it was the Peruvian Ysrael Zuniga.

The two men were signed eight days before, from very different backgrounds, but with very good grounds to expect to be given more time to settle in.

Hendry had played just 45 minutes of reserve team football after a knee operation and Coventry’s manager Gordon Strachan agreed that, fitness-wise, he was at least two matches away from a first team debut.

The manager virtually wrote off the Peruvian until next season. He explained:

"I have not yet seen him play and he comes from such a very different culture to our own that he will need a lengthy period to settle in over here. I think he is one for next season."

But Strachan’s hand was forced by the cruel hand of fate that has dumped a virtual first eleven on to the injury list.

Coventry’s medical staff are working flat out to try to get the walking wounded back into the action.

It was a surprise to many that striker Robbie Keane did not line up at Leeds. It later transpired that he had not trained during the squad’s week long break in Spain because of a knee ligament injury.

Zuniga scored a few goals in practice matches and Strachan saw enough to convince him that, with Noel Whelan needed in midfield, the Peruvian could go in alongside Cedric Roussel, playing his first match after severe concussion.

Hendry’s inclusion was more puzzling. He was included alongside Gary Breen when most judges thought Richard Shaw was the obvious partner for the new man. Shaw was not injured. He was on the substitutes’ bench and went on at half-time to play at right-back in place of Barry Quinn.

Hendry said: 

"It was a surprise. I realised during the week that we had a lot of players injured. The manager did not speak to me about it. He just picked me and so I played. It was everything I expected, especially playing against Leeds, who are a very good team.

"We conceded an early goal and it was always going to be difficult after that."

Coventry have goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic (shoulder), defender Paul Telfer (ankle), full back Tomas Gustafsson (calf), full back Marc Edworthy (ankle), midfielder Carlton Palmer (calf), full back Marcus Hall (knee), winger Steve Froggatt (ankle), striker John Aloisi (hamstring) and striker Robbie Keane (knee) on the casualty list.

Moustapha Hadji missed the Leeds game through suspension.