Coventry City’s £7.7m signing of USA international, Haji Wright, raised a few eyebrows in the summer, as the club looked to fill the void left by the departure of star striker Viktor Gyokeres.
However, Wright seems to have found his form recently and is starting to produce a return on the big fee.
Wright was brought in from Turkish side Antalyaspor, where he scored an impressive 31 goals in 64 games across two seasons.
The 25-year-old was somewhat of a journeyman before joining the Sky Blues in the summer, playing in Germany, Denmark and Holland before his successful time in Turkey.
The forward has made seven appearances for the USA, including at the 2022 World Cup where he started in the group stage fixture against England.
Wright’s initial struggles in front of goal left even more Coventry fans questioning the decision to bring in the forward as the club started the season poorly, sitting in 20th place after the opening 14 games.
The American managed just two goals in that time, appearing in every match.
What’s changed for Haji Wright?
Since the slow start, he, like Coventry City, appears to have turned things around.
Wright has now scored eight goals and assisted another five in the league, with the Sky Blues climbing up to eighth place, just outside the playoff spots.
The forward is averaging 2.5 shots per game and has an xG of 11.29, something which will only hopefully improve as the season progresses for the Sky Blues frontman.
Haji Wright’s Coventry City Championship Stats 2023-24
Appearances
26
Average Minutes Per game
62
Goals
8
Assists
5
Shots Per Game
2.5
Big Chances Missed
13
Touches Per Game
23.6
Key Passes Per Game
0.6
Successful Dribbles Per Game
0.9 (52%)
Possession Lost Per Game
8.4
Stats Correct As Of January 4, 2024 – As Per Sofascore.
Credit must go to Wright and Coventry City for remaining patient.
The American has become a key part of Mark Robins’ side, playing in an attack which offers pace and physicality with Wright, Simms and Sakamoto.
Wright looks to have found his place on the left of the front three and is relishing the opportunities from wider areas.
He has been involved in 34% of the goals Coventry City have scored and fans will be hoping he can continue to find form and kick on.
The return of Callum O’Hare appears to have played a big part in the upturn in the form of Coventry City and Wright himself.
O’Hare brings drive and attacking flare which the club lost a significant amount of when fan favourite Gustavo Hamer departed for Sheffield United in the summer following the play-off final defeat to Luton Town.
Sky Blues looking up
Following their poor start to the season, Coventry City and their fans will now be looking up the table rather than down as they attempt to pull themselves into the playoff positions. They sit just three points outside the top six and look to have found their groove.
Haji Wright will be key for the club, particularly if he continues to find the back of the net. Coventry fans will also be quietly hoping that Viktor Gyokeres secures a big-money move away from Sporting Lisbon, with the club likely to make a good profit from any fee.
Mark Robins and Coventry’s strikers, including Haji Wright and fellow summer arrival, Ellis Simms, would certainly benefit from the signing of an additional creative midfielder in this window, something the potential sale of Viktor Gyokeres would allow for.
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