Coventry City midfielder Steve Froggatt fears he will never recover from his long-term injury, while Carlton Palmer has been told he can leave the club.

Froggatt has been out with an ankle injury since a terrible challenge from Nicky Summerbee in a game against Sunderland last February left him in the treatment room.

He hoped to be returning to training, with a view to getting back into the team before the end of the season.

But his attempts at a return have been frustrated by a recurrence of the problem, and he says he now fears that his career could be over.

Meanwhile Carlton Palmer has been told that he can leave Coventry City on a free transfer. He had been loaned to Watford after putting in a transfer request, but was recalled during an injury crisis.

However, comments made by him about the club means that the management have lost patience with him and have told him he can go.

Three key players are returning to the Sky Blues line-up tonight after absences as they travel to Leeds in the hope of finding a winning touch.

David Thompson returns from suspension, while Moustapha Hadji and Yousseff Chippo have come back from international duty.

Leeds are without Gary Kelly and Harry Kewell, and are unlikely to have the services of Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate, who are currently on trial in Hull facing accusations of violence.