Tatsuhiro Sakamoto: Coventry City lose injured Japanese midfielder for rest of season - BBC Sport

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto: Coventry City lose injured Japanese midfielder for rest of season

Ellis Simms holds up Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's shirt after scoring against Maidstone
Ellis Simms held up Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's shirt after scoring his first goal in Coventry's FA Cup win over Maidstone

Coventry midfielder Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is set to miss the rest of the season after being injured in Friday's 3-0 loss to Preston, boss Mark Robins says.

Robins has still not revealed the nature of the injury, after the Japan international, 27, fell awkwardly and was taken to hospital.

Sakamoto was spotted walking unaided at the CBS Arena as Coventry beat Maidstone 5-0 in the FA Cup on Monday.

"The main thing is he will recover," Robins told BBC CWR.

"He will miss the rest of the season. I don't want to tell everybody what it is just yet because I want to let things settle down and make sure Tats is right, as I've not managed to speak to him other than by text.

"He will be maybe eight to 10 weeks and that sees us to the end of the season."

Coventry striker Ellis Simms held Sakamoto's shirt aloft after scoring the first goal against Maidstone and said: "We discussed in the huddle that if anyone scored they would dedicate the goal to him.

"He's a popular squad member so I want to dedicate it to him. He is going to be a miss for a few weeks but hopefully he'll soon be back in the dressing room, laughing and smiling."

Sakamoto has scored seven times since arriving in the summer on a three-year deal from Belgian club KV Oostende.

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