Jodi Jones is relishing the “challenge” of fighting for his place in the first team as he closes in on his return to fitness ahead of the Sky Blues match against Lincoln City on Saturday.
The winger praised his teammates efforts this season and admitted it would be difficult to break back into the side given their form in Sky Bet League One.
However, Jones is remaining patient after almost two years out with injury and won’t rush his return to competitive action.
Jones said: “The team are doing well, they’re playing good football, and we’re doing the right things at the moment.”
“It’s going to be a challenge to get back in the team, but I like challenges and it’s always a good thing if you have to fight for your spot.
“You don’t want it to be too easy and you know the team are doing well if you’re fighting for your spot.
“I’ve been patient for so long, there’s no need to rush things now. At the beginning of my injury that was the hardest part.
“People ask me is it harder now, about wanting to play a game because I’m so close, but it’s not too hard.
“I’m just happy to be back out there training. It’s so much better than just being in the gym by myself, it’s the best feeling.
“I’ve been out for a long time and it’s just nice to be back in the mix, training with the boys, so I’m feeling good.”
Jones feels he would be able to make an impact off the bench but isn’t quite ready to play a full 90 minutes just yet.
“I’m not too far away. As I’ve said, I feel good in training but being out for two years is a long time.
“Towards the end of the week I feel a bit more tired but at the beginning of the week I feel great.
“There are positives that have come out of this injury. I look after my body so much more and I feel good every day really.
“It’s just about getting used to things again, my body isn’t used to playing football every single day like it used to be.
“It’s tough but I’m getting there slowly. There haven’t been any 23s games lately because of the Christmas period but I’ve been in and around the squad so hopefully I’ll be back soon.
“My legs are fine, I think I’d be able to come off the bench and make an impact, I wouldn’t be able to start a game though, I don’t have the fitness to play a full game yet.”
In spite of his two ACL injuries, Jones isn’t fearful of suffering a repeat of the injury and feels his new knee is strong having worked on it for the past year.
“Even the first time I came back, I was never worried about my knee at all, which surprised me myself.
“I’m not worried about my knee one bit, I know my knee is strong and if anything, I’ve got a brand-new knee. I’ve been working on it for the last year so it’s definitely strong.
“It’s just about the other muscles in my leg, following the operation, getting them back to full strength because that’s quite tough.”
He also thanked teammate Max Biamou for supporting him through his injury and took strength from former Sky Blues striker Callum Wilson, who had his own battle with back-to-back ACL injuries.
“Me and Max have definitely got closer since we were both injured together, and he made it 10 times easier for me.
“It was still tough, but he made it so much easier. He played like a big brother role to me and helped me whenever my head was gone, or I was feeling down, and he’d tell me what to do. Having someone there for me was the best feeling.
“I think if I hadn’t seen that story, of Callum Wilson doing his ACL twice and being where he is now, I don’t know how I would have dealt with it.
“A lot of people have done their ACL, it probably happens every week, but seeing that story motivates people like me and Max who have done it twice so hopefully I can come back like him.”