Coventry City will have the services of Chris Kirkland for the game against Manchester United after he was cleared of his red card against Chelsea.

Playing in only his second game, the 19-year-old was ordered off by referee Stephen Lodge when he appeared to bring Jimmy Hasselbaink down.

Chelsea went on to thrash the Sky Blues 6-1, but the decision to give the young keeper a red card was criticised.

After much persuasion, Lodge has now looked at a video of the game and conceded he was wrong to dismiss Kirkland.

The FA’s disciplinary commission has agreed with Lodge’s request that the red card be rescinded.

This means that Kirkland will no longer face a one-match ban. Instead he will have to face Manchester United’s heavy artillery at the weekend in place of the injured Magnus Hedman.