Mark Robins believes the Sky Blues are showing “good signs” after winning both matches in a double-header against Peterborough United on Saturday.
City were 2-1 winners in the opening match, with Matty Godden and Callum O’Hare striking in either half at the Weston Homes Stadium.
A much-changed Sky Blues side then claimed a 3-2 success in the second game, with Amadou Bakayoko scoring a brace and Jodi Jones once again finding the net.
There were also debuts for both Leo Ostigard and Tyler Walker who Robins was keen to have a look at, with the pair arriving this week from Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Robins said: “It was a good workout, there were some good performances, it gave us an opportunity to give everybody some minutes, we were more like ourselves in the first game, we had some debutants as well.
“Leo Ostigard started the game and goes off on international duty now, we’ll miss him for next week, but he’ll be back before the start of the season, and we had a look at Tyler Walker.
“In the second game, with a lot of young players I thought we held our own pretty well, they’ve got quite a strong second team as well, it was very good, very interesting and there were some really good goals, it was a good workout all in all.
“There was once or twice where we dropped ourselves in it, there’s still a way to go and still things to do to improve, it’s very early days and there’s some good signs.”
The double-header allowed Robins to give his squad plenty of minutes and was impressed with the likes of Gervane Kastaneer, goalscorer Jones and Josh Pask.
“Right wing-back is a position we’re short on, with Dacosta out and Franky out, there are players there that I’ll be looking at to try and fill in, Gervane showed power and pace and put a brilliant ball in for Bakayoko to score.
“Jodi got another goal, he’s growing in a little bit of confidence, he still needs to take the contact on players, he’s still looking to try and avoid contact, it was a good workout for everybody.
“I thought Josh Pask stood out for us as well, we used the ball pretty well at times, we’ve created a lot of chances and we could have been three up before we scored in the first game.”
City have now claimed three successive wins in pre-season, with the game at Peterborough their third in a week, as preparations continue ahead of the start of the new EFL season next week.
“This is the third game in a week for quite a few, that was important, as well as getting 90 minutes, it was a brilliant workout and we’re thankful to Peterborough for putting it on.
“Everybody’s seen the fixture list which is exciting, but obviously congested, we’re going to need players at their best and peak physical condition, the signings add competition and really good quality.
“Tyler is a fantastic signing for us, he’s played with Matty Godden before, it’s also lifted Baka as well because he’s scored two goals today and got one the other night at Burton, it’s had the desired effect, the strikers are scoring.
“The players we’ve bought in have hit the ground running a little bit, probably with the exception of Hilßner, he’s got a lot of quality and hopefully we can see more of him as he develops his fitness.”