JUST IN: seven Coventry stars have been ruled out due to injury problems, leaving two superstars to return for the preseason.

Coventry City will report back for pre-season training later this summer with at least two new faces in tow as the result of dealings past and present. The Sky Blues haven’t hung around as they begin to find ways to improve their squad ahead of next season’s Championship campaign.

City have already trimmed around the edges of their group, although most are under contract having arrived only last summer. Liam Kelly, Simon Moore, Dermi Lusala and Bradley Stretton have departed, while Luis Binks returned to parent club Bologna at the end of his loan spell. Callum O’Hare has been offered a contract upon the expiry of his existing deal, which runs out at the end of next month.

On Friday, the club confirmed – very cleverly, initially, through social media – that they had secured the signing of Raphael Rodrigues on a four-year contract from Macarthur in Australia. The winger is excited by the prospect of what the new season holds – his first in English football.

Speaking to the manager and everyone at the club, they showed me a lot of confidence that they believe that I can come here and make an impact,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be hard, but I think they’ll help me adapt in the best way possible and then help me with this next step in my career.

I like to be creative and express myself and hopefully I can score a lot of goals and create a lot of assists and just entertain people. I’m buzzing, I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started. [The manager] explained to me the way they do things here, the way they want to play, and I was very excited to jump on board.”