Gary McSheffrey is looking to get his first goal of the season sooner rather than later...
Coventry City midfielder Gary McSheffrey hopes to reach the level of performance he says fans expect from him ahead of the game against Portsmouth.
The 30-year old, who has made over 200 appearances for the club and scored 60 goals, is yet to get off the mark for Coventry this season.
McSheffrey started both games this week against Hartelpool and Colchester as he looks to keep his starting place for Pompey’s visit to the Ricoh Arena.
The City midfielder believes he hasn’t reached the standards the Coventry faithful expect from him, but he is looking to amend that sooner rather than later.
McSheffrey said: “No player wants to be out of the team and sit on the bench or even watch from the stands, and I am no different.
“It is frustrating when I am not playing but it is up to me to deal with it. Deep down, I know I haven’t been fully fit since pre-season even though I had come back in great shape, just got a few little injuries which have set me back.
“I need a good run of games as even when I have played this season, I injured my ankle at Arsenal so I have been affected by that. If your fit, and you’re not playing well, then you can get upset about your form.
“I am determined to get this season up and running. No matter where I play though, I know I am judged on goals. I have scored goals for the club on a regular basis at a higher level and if I am not scoring goals then everyone is going ‘McSheffrey is having a bad season isn’t he’.
“I have learnt to live with that and it does get frustrating if I don’t get double figures as people will say I have had a bad season.
“If the manager starts picking me for the team weekly, once a few goals go in I know everything will come together. When I have criticism, I know I have to be mentally strong."
Coventry have now won five of the last six games in all competitions, and scored eight goals against Hartlepool and Colchester this week.
McSheffrey continued by saying he believes the squad are now working in the right direction.
He added: “Being a fan myself and having watched the games when I was younger, I understand that the fans are frustrated because the club is in the lowest position it has been for a long time.
“It hasn’t been good enough but that is what the manager is trying to put across to the squad. Standards have to change and I think we are all going in the right direction now.
“I want to meet the expectations of the fans as much as everyone else. I am working hard so I hope I can get on the score-sheet soon and kick-start my season.”