Currently on loan at Hartlepool, Coventry City striker Kevin Kyle has spoken out about why he thinks his first-team opportunities at his club have been restricted. In an interview with the BBC, Kyle said he believes the reason to be entirely financial.

"If I play 50 games, Sunderland get a lump sum of money,'' he revealed. ''I've played 47, so that's probably why I'm not getting a sniff - but the manager might argue differently."

Kyle moved to Coventry from Sunderland in July 2006 for an initial fee of £600,000. Having got himself sent off twice in three games, he was allowed to go on loan to Wolves in the January transfer window. During his time at Molineux, Coventry’s then manager Iain Dowie was sacked and Coleman took over. And since Kyle returned to Coventry in April, he hasn’t featured in Coleman’s plans.

Kyle may well have a point as it does seem a little strange at face value for his appearances to stop at 47, just three games short of a financial penalty for the club.

However, a look at his record and that of other strikers at the club may provide another possibility as to why Coleman has looked elsewhere to try to find some goals.

The Sky Blues boss is currently favouring Clinton Morrison, Freddy Eastwood and Michael Mifsud. Morrison has played 376 league games at four different clubs and scored 117 times - just under one goal every three games.

Eastwood has played 153 league games at three different clubs and found the net 57 times. That’s one goal in just over every two-and-a-half games. And in Mifsud's 66 league games for Coventry, he has scored 14 times at a rate of one goal every four-and-a-half games.

Kyle’s record shows that he has played 162 league games for six different clubs and has managed a total of just 23 goals. For Coventry he has five in 44 - slightly worse than his career average at one goal every nine games.

Maybe I’m being cynical here but I think Kevin might have missed the point. I wish him well at Hartlepool. He’s a real handful and he gives his all - but if it’s goals you want, he might not be the man.