“I don’t want to speculate, but things haven’t gone very well for the team, I have to develop to get into the team more, I have to improve”- Coventry City star speaks out on Sky Blues struggles after being dropped and how he plans to earn back manager’s trust

Oliver Dovin has spoken about being dropped by Coventry City and how he intends to win back Mark Robins’ trust and reclaim his place in the Sky Blues team.

The summer signing from Swedish top flight side Hammarby for around £1.6m started the season for the Sky Blues, playing the opening six Championship matches. But after three defeats, two draws and just one victory, the manager decided to make a change, dropping the 22-year-old for the more experienced Ben Wilson, 10 years his senior.

Robins explained his decision, saying: “Right now, this was a decision I wanted to make because he (Wilson) has a different voice, a different influence, and he’s really good at communicating with the players in front of him.”

Dovin was asked about his situation at City while on international duty with his country’s under-21s this week. Speaking to Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen, he said: “I don’t want to comment on it too much. My coach made that choice, then I have to accept it and continue to do my best. Hopefully I will get the chance again.”

He added: “I don’t want to speculate, but things haven’t gone very well for the team at the moment. Ben Wilson has been at the club for a long time and they know each other. Then I realised that maybe he (Robins) needed to make some changes and made that decision.

“As much as I want and can play, sometimes you have to accept that it won’t always be like that. Then you just have to bite the bullet and keep practicing.”

At the same time, Dovin admits that he needs to develop his communicative skills on the pitch.

“I have to practice that,” he said. Asked how he intends to do that, he added: “You just have to remind yourself of it all the time. Being loud and constantly push, push, push. That’s a big part and that’s where I need to take the next step. I think that’s important wherever you play. I have to improve.

“But I think it also plays a role that I am new. I don’t know my teammates the same way I did in Bajen (Hammarby) where I played for several years. That’s what I have to develop to get into the team more. Then I come in with more weight and they feel they can trust me.”

Asked what are the main differences between the English Championship and Swedish top flight, he said: “It’s a tough league. It’s fast, there are good players and there is a big difference in how all teams play. It’s a little different. It is more even between the teams where a bottom team can easily win against a top three team.”

As for the biggest challenge from a goalkeeper’s perspective, he said: “It’s tougher on corners and stuff like that. You are not as protected as a goalkeeper and you get hit a lot. In addition, the players have better quality in end modes. It’s a step up.”