91Èȱ¬

Coventry City manager Steven Pressley's search for strike power could be helped from within their ranks in the wake of Marcus Tudgay's return to favour.

Pressley, who also has a decision to make over on-loan Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Madine, has been impressed with 31-year-old Tudgay's response to being left out for two months.

"He has a role to play between now and the end of the season," said Pressley.

"He looks like he's returned to the Marcus Tudgay we all know."

Tudgay was left out following the FA Cup first-round home defeat by Worcester City on 9 November.

But he returned to the Sky Blues side when Madine was absent for the trip to Walsall on 3 January and, although missing an early penalty, he scored late on to seal a 2-0 win - the former Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest forward's first goal for the club.

He then missed two matches with a hamstring injury, before appearing as a late substitute in last Saturday's goalless draw at Gillingham.

But, although Pressley may yet re-enter the transfer market before the window closes on Monday, 2 February at 23:00 GMT, he remains open-minded on Tudgay.

"Like everything, a manager can have a change of opinion on things," added Pressley. "That's credit to Marcus for doing that.

"At one stage I thought Marcus's future may lie elsewhere but he's changed my mind purely by his attitude and commitment and his mentality to the job here."

As for 24-year-old Madine, his current three-month loan deal runs out this Friday and, with other clubs reportedly showing interest, Coventry must decide whether they want to turn his move into a more permanent one.