Coventry City skipper Gary McAllister has high hopes that the Sky Blues are ready to mount a serious challenge for the top half of the table.

McAllister, in his best form for five years, is Coventry's leading scorer and has netted in the last two games.

He leads the team out against Aston Villa in front of the Sky cameras on Monday night confident Coventry can end a run of six successive home defeats against their Midland rivals.

He said:

"The arrival of Robbie Keane has made a difference to us and you just have to watch him in action to see how good he is. It's very refreshing to play alongside someone like that.

"He is the sort of player who will help me prolong my career because he has been a breath of fresh air. Our two Moroccan players and Carlton Palmer have had a similar effect on the club.

"The way we have been asked to train and the play has changed. There is a greater professionalism throughout the club than when I arrived."

McAllister will be up against former team-mates George Boateng and Dion Dublin who moved across the Midlands last season and knows that victory would lift City clear of John Gregory's side.

"It should be a cracking game for the cameras - it has all the ingredients. We know we can nip above them so there is a lot to play for.

"There is some rivalry between the chairmen and lots of interesting head-to-heads. George wanted his move to a so-called bigger club, he has got it but the grass isn't always greener.

"We are definitely capable of winning and always look as if we can score a goal. I have not seen a lot of Villa so far this season but Dion has got his customary eight or nine so he will definitely be a danger and we are aware of that."