Youssef Safri’s debut for Coventry against Nottingham Forest at Highfield Road tonight depends largely on the goodwill of a member of the Football Association’s staff.

Coventry are hoping that the Moroccan FA has finally dispatched international clearance for Safri to start his career in English football.

Coventry’s manager Gordon Strachan, who had hoped to use the midfielder in Friday’s match at Bradford, said:

“We are hoping that someone from the FA will break into their Bank Holiday Monday and go into the office to see if the clearance has arrived.

“I am thinking seriously about playing Youssef against Nottingham Forest because he has been impressive in training, but our hands are tied at present.”

Coventry are victims of a squabble between Safri’s last club Reja Casablanca and the Moroccan FA which claims it is owed 50,000 dollars. It will not release international clearance until Reja pays up.

Strachan is considering changes from the side that lost at Bradford.

“It was an improved performance, but not where I want it to be. I don’t think anyone could argue against making changes in a side which has lost the last two matches.”

Mo Konjic, the Bosnian centreback, is in the frame after missing those matches with a strained hamstring, but striker Julian Joachim, skipper John Eustace and centreback Gary Breen are still not over their longer term injuries.

Goalkeeper Magnus Hedman, who is wanted by Premier League leaders Everton, has a ‘slight strain’ so loan-keeper Andy Goram is on standby to make his debut.

Coventry are desperate to avoid their third defeat in a row which would deal a hammer blow to their hopes of a good start to the First Division campaign.

They began in high-style with victory at Stockport County, but then lost their first home match to Wolverhampton Wanderers and again at Bradford on Friday.

They will have some time to regroup after tonight’s match. Next weekend’s fixture at Rotherham United has been postponed because of international call-ups, so the next match will be at home against Grimsby town on 8 September.

Meanwhile some of the injured could get a run out in Wednesday’s reserve match against Leicester City at Highfield Road.