MARK Robins has confirmed key midfielder Tatsuhiro Sakamoto will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a back injury.
Sakamoto landed heavily on his back when challenging for an aerial ball in City’s disappointing 3-0 defeat against Preston North End.
And while Robins revealed the Japan international is now out of hospital, the Sky Blues boss admitted it is sad news for the club in their pursuit of a play-off place.
Robins said: “He’ll miss the rest of the season, he’s got a bad back injury, he’s out of hospital and back home, he’s going to recover but it’s going to take time.
“Unfortunately for him he’s in quite a bit of pain, I’m hoping that subsides really quickly for him, he’s been brilliant, he needed a rest, he was crying out for a breather and I couldn’t give him a breather.
“The fatigue was there, you could see it, and unfortunately he’s had this injury and it’s going to take a little bit of time for him to recover.
“It’s really sad for him and it’s really sad for us.”
Sakamoto has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 29 league appearances for Coventry this season following his arrival from Belgian side Oostende in the summer.
