COVENTRY City manager Chris Coleman says preparation ahead of Saturday's league clash with Preston North End in the midst of an international break has been more constructive this time round in comparison to when the last time his players were called on international duty.

The Sky Blues went down to a 3-0 home defeat to Bristol City last month after Coleman was left without a chunk of his squad to train with because of international commitments prior to the tie with the Robins.

But he says this time round he has managed to keep the bulk of his squad together, resulting in a series of much more positive training sessions.

"The last time there were international fixtures prior to the Bristol City match we were down to the bare bones in terms of players that were in training.

"With the international boys away and few lads out with injury, we also had a reserve game and the number of bodies we had in training was down to about seven which is not what you want.

"But we've managed to keep the bulk of the squad together this time and training has been much more constructive as a result.

"We haven't got the biggest squad in the division by any means but while we might not have the quantity, we have certainly got lots of quality in this squad."

The City boss will also be hoping internationals Aron Gunnarsson and Michael Mifsud, who represent Iceland and Malta respectively in World Cup qualifiers tonight, will come through their oversees encounters unscathed.

"We will have taken a serious look at both of them to see what sort of shape they're in because both of them could have played a lot of football and done lots of travelling as well," he said.