Coventry City’s new-look Under-21s includes the son of one of Frank Lampard’s former England team-mates.
The Sky Blues have made seven new signings to bolster the club’s development squad, which is now headed up by former skipper Liam Kelly. And included in the new recruits is teenage goalkeeper Jack Ruddy, son of former Premier League stopper John Ruddy, who played for Norwich City, Wolves and Newcastle United.
Following in his dad’s footsteps in terms of his specialist position, 18-year-old Jack joins from the Canaries on a free transfer.
Dad John, 39, left the Premier League at the end of last season after his contract at St James’ Park expired.
Ruddy was a team-mate of Lampard when they were both picked for England in 2012, playing together in the 2-1 friendly win over Italy in Bern, Switzerland.
The other new signings for the Sky Blues Under-21s are two centre-backs, Victor Madu, 18, also from Norwich, and Jimmy Holman, 18, from Eastbourne Town; midfielder Billy-Ray Cullinane, 18, from Brighton and Hove Albion and wingers Nsemi Bassega, 18 from Wycombe Wanderers and Harrison Gray, 18, from Swindon Town.
And, finally, 18-year-old striker Elijah Briscoe has joined from Aston Villa.
The club have also handed professional contracts to goalkeeper Eliot Meredith, who has been training with the first team during pre-season, and right-back Tionne Critchlow-Woyo.
They join existing squad members: George Shepherd, Shay Dunn, Joshua Gordon, MacKenzie Stretton, Oscar Varney, Aidan Dausch, Tristen Batanwi, Isaac Moore (on loan at Walsall), Elliot Betjemann, Harvey Broad, Riccardo Di Trolio and David Mantle.
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