FORMER Ipswich Town goalkeeper Andy Marshall has played his last game for Coventry City - and will not face the Blues at Portman Road on Sunday.

Elvin King

FORMER Ipswich Town goalkeeper Andy Marshall has played his last game for Coventry City - and will not face the Blues at Portman Road on Sunday.

Marshall has been released by Sky Blues manager Chris Coleman, and an injured back will keep him out of the side at the weekend.

Coleman said: “Andy hurt his back last Thursday, just bending down to pick up a ball and he ricked it.

“I did have it in my mind to give him a game in one of these games because I felt it would be nice to say farewell to the supporters who respect him a lot, and rightly so.

“But I don't think that will be possible now.”

Marshall was brought in to replace Richard Wright in 2001 from Norwich City, but never earned a regular place and was left out of the squad for long periods when Joe Royle took over as Town boss.

Coventry hope to have striker Leon Best back on after he returned to training this week after a groin injury.

But there are concerns about Clinton Morrison with the leading scorer having a knee injury.

“Leon Best will be okay for the weekend, but Clinton hasn't trained," said Chris Coleman.

“He had a problem last week and played on Saturday, which didn't do him any favours.”

Midfielder Kevin Thornton will be missing on Sunday after taking a tumble in training and injuring his shoulder for a second time.

Coventry could have a couple of academy players in their team at Portman Road, but Coleman knows it will be a gamble now that Roy Keane has taken over the Blues.

Centre back Jermaine Grandison and winger Ashley Cain came on as substitutes against Watford last weekend and midfielder Adam Walker is expected to be in the party to travel to Suffolk.

Coventry have not won for eight games, and Coleman added: “I don't think the kids can do any worse than the lads on Saturday.

“Some of our guys looked physically and mentally tired. They have had the stuffing knocked out of them and it is difficult to try and pick them up every week.

“I wouldn't rule out playing some of the academy youngsters at Ipswich.

“The problem is when you play kids you don't want them to be on the wrong end of a three, four or five goal defeat because that could affect them for a long time - and they don't deserve that.”