Aussie striker John Aloisi is ready to stake his claim for Coventry, but manager Gordon Strachan has not ruled out Noel Whelan for Sunday’s Premiership match in Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Whelan striker twisted his ankle awkwardly in a tackle on David Beckham in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, and was rushed to hospital.

X-rays revealed no bone damage, but as a precaution the club insisted he had a scan on the injury which is just above his right ankle.

The club theory 24 hours after the injury was that it was ligament damage and Strachan is hoping Whelan will be fit to resume his strike partnership with new £6 million man Robbie Keane.

Aussie striker John Aloisi took over up front with 20 minutes left and scored from his only chance of the match.

"That goal against the top team in Europe will have done John a lot of good and will be good for us," said Strachan. "He had been a little way off playing in the first team during training, but I have no worries about playing him at Sunderland if needed, because he is a natural goalscorer."

Strachan also has to decide who plays in place of the banned David Burrows who is serving the second of his three match suspension.