Coventry manager Gordon Strachan is keeping his fingers crossed that his international players return free from injury.

Strachan’s already slimmed down squad has been decimated by injuries already in the last ten days and he cannot afford to lose any more.

Coventry’s medical room has players queueing for treatment and already Noel Whelan, Laurent Delorge and Paul Telfer face weeks of inactivity, with Runar Normann also on the casualty list.

In addition David Burrows has had an operation on his toe while under suspension and Youssef Chippo also faces suspension.

Strachan will be casting anxious eyes over the newspaper reports of matches involving his international contingent this weekend hoping fervently that they all come through unscathed.

Gary Breen and Robbie Keane have already played for the Republic of Ireland this week in the 2-1 defeat of Yugoslavia and they are in action again tomorrow in Croatia. Barry Quinn has also played for the Republic’s under-21 side.

Mo Konjic is in action for Bosnia against Scotland tomorrow in Sarajevo and Gavin Strachan is in the Scotland under-21 team also against Bosnia.

Magnus Hedman keeps goal for Sweden against Bulgaria and the Moroccans Moustapha Hadji and Youssef Chippo face Belgium.

An injury to any of them would give Strachan a major headache as he prepares his side for the next match which is against Leeds United - Darren Huckerby and all - at Highfield Road tomorrow week.

Meanwhile Whelan is under treatment for stretched ankle ligaments, Telfer for knee ligament damage collected in Tuesday’s reserve team match, Delorge for a knee injury which will be examined by a specialist and Normann for a hamstring strain.