Micky Adams was left with a headache over one of his strikers when Dele Adebola limped out of Coventry City's 1-1 home draw with Southampton on Monday night.

But, despite the loss of Adebola with a hamstring strain, the Sky Blues manager was still able to depart the Ricoh Arena with a smile on his face thanks to the form of his other big target man, James Scowcroft.

Although City claimed just one point from their tough Bank Holiday weekend double against Sheffield United and Southampton, Scowcroft's re-emergence as a goal threat has proved a major Sky Blue boost.

Since scoring for Leicester City in a 2-1 home win over Plymouth last November, Scowcroft had gone 23 games without a goal.

Ten blanks for Leicester, prior to his loan move back to his former club Ipswich Town in February, then nine more for the Tractor Boys (six of them as substitute), followed by four more without a goal to start this campaign following his summer move down the M69.

In fairness, the versatile Scowcroft has spent that barren spell being switched all over the front line, given the way he can also slot smoothly into a wide midfield role.

But, having seen him break his Coventry duck at Bramall Lane, then score again with a clinical near-post strike on Monday night, Adams knew just how much his man needed a goal.

"It will help his confidence and the team's," said Adams. "We've got a nucleus of good young players here, but James is one of the senior professionals who understands the game.

"He's one of them in the changing room who you don't have to repeat yourself to 45 times before it registers.

"The year we got promoted at Leicester, he played right wing, left wing and up front sometimes for me and chipped in with a few important goals.

"But he looked a little short of confidence when he joined us. And I'm pleased that he's showing his old confidence.

"He and Dele are forming a decent relationship. When you've got two centre forwards playing well and reading each other it takes a lot out of it.

"They understand each other's games and Adebola going off was a big disappointment.

"In that sense, his injury has come at a bad time. But, with the international break this weekend, maybe it's a good time and he might have time to get right for our next game at

home to Reading on Saturday week."

Coventry certainly did not look as much of a threat once Stern John had come on to replace Adebola, the Sky Blues' two-goal hero on their Ricoh Arena nine days earlier.

But, if Adebola is to be out for any length of time, then Adams insists that it's up to his team to play more to John's strengths.

"Stern John's a different type of player to Dele," said Adams. "And maybe we've got to change the way we play when we've got Stern up there."