Loan Watch: Carl Rushworth Stars as Coventry Close on Promotion and Brighton Face Big Decision

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Coventry are expected to return to the Premier League this season. They’re set to come up as champions. While many criticised the decision to sack Mark Robins and replace him with Frank Lampard in November 2024, the decision, in hindsight, proved a masterstroke.

Lampard took the Sky Blues from mid-table, and just three points above the dropzone, to the Championship playoffs, ultimately falling to eventual winners Sunderland in the semi-finals. Fast-forward to the present day, and the Midlands side are nine points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough, and 11 above Ipswich in third, though the Tractor Boys do have a game in hand on those around them.

The club’s impressive goal haul has drawn widespread praise, and deservedly so. Coventry have scored at least 14 more goals (81) than any other player in England’s second tier this term. Haji Wright has scored the second most goals (16) in the division. Teammate Brandon Thomas-Asante has also cracked double figures in the 2025-26 campaign.

That shouldn’t come as a shock. Coventry rank top for shots per 90 (16.7), chances created per 90 (12) and Expected Goals (82.02). They’re regularly creating the opportunities, and tucking them away with ease.

Praise for Rushworth

However, while Coventry’s impressive frontline warrants praise, so, too, does their defence. Carl Rushworth moved to the CBS Arena on loan from Brighton last summer. It was the goalkeeper’s sixth loan spell of his career, and arguably the one that will shoot the 24-year-old to stardom.

Rushworth moved to Brighton back in 2019, the Seagulls plucking the shotstopper from Halifax Town. And he is making the most of the opportunity presented to him at Coventry. Lampard’s side boast the third best defensive record in the Championship this season having conceded 40 league goals.

The team at the top of the table boasting one of the best defensive returns in the league shouldn’t come as a surprise. That being said, Coventry are hardly the most effective unit defensively. Indeed, Lampard’s side are conceding 12.1 shots per 90, the ninth lowest haul in the Championship.

For context, relegation-threatened pair Portsmouth (11.4) and West Brom (10.5) are shipping fewer shots per 90. Yet Rushworth is thriving as the last line of defence. The on-loan goalkeeper is a key reason behind their notably low goals against tally.

Rushworth ranks fifth for saves (106) in the 2025-26 Championship campaign, and boasts one of the best save success rates (73.7%) in the division. In addition, the Coventry star has kept more clean sheets (14) than any other goalkeeper. Coventry have conceded 7.5 fewer goals than they should have done in part due to Rushworth’s heroics between the sticks.

Now, in the long run, it’s not a sustainable approach. Coventry would be torn to shreds in the Premier League were they to implement such an open style of play upon their expected return to England’s top tier. The reason they are able to do so is because of Rushworth’s goalkeeping exploits.

Verbruggen's Brighton replacement?

The issue, though, is that Rushworth is unlikely to be plying his trade for Coventry beyond the summer. Brighton may just bring the English youngster back to the AMEX with a view to succeeding Bart Verbruggen. The Dutchman has been linked with a summer exit, with Bayern Munich and Chelsea reportedly keen on the Netherlands international.

And it’s for good reason that Rushworth is eyed as the long-term successor for Verbruggen. Coventry don’t see a lion-share of the ball in the Championship. A 53.8% possession average is the sixth highest. Rather, they are a side that relies on rapid transitions to hurt opponents.

Coventry have had the seventh most shots following a counter attack (41) in the division. Only Hull (10) have scored more counter-attacking goals than the Sky Blues (8) this season. Rushworth is one of the main reasons for both figures being so high. He is averaging 7.1 accurate long balls per 90, the seventh most in the division.

38.7 passes per 90 is second of goalkeepers to have made at least 15 appearances in 2025-26. He’d certainly slot in well on the south coast, with Verbruggen averaging 5.1 accurate long balls and 40.4 passes per 90 in the Premier League this season.

Shotstopper warrants Premier League shot

It’s clear that Rushworth is key to Coventry’s impending successful promotion. His form has perhaps gone under the radar but that shouldn’t detract from his importance to their superb league showings.

Crucially, too, is that it looks as though Brighton won’t have to spend big to replace Verbruggen as and when the Dutchman departs. With a reported £50m asking price, the Seagulls stand to make a sizeable profit on the former Anderlecht man.

Coventry would supposedly need to part with £20m to make Rushworth’s move permanent. Paying that fee would be a no brainer for the Sky Blues. However, Brighton should also consider the possibility he’d succeed Verbruggen as number one. He’s certainly proven he’s up to the task.

Read the other instalments of Loan Watch below

Loan Watch: Nicolas Jackson’s Bayern Munich Spell - Goals, Red Card & Chelsea Future Explained

Loan Watch: Vitor Reis’ Girona Form Shows Promise for Man City

Loan Watch: Evan Ferguson’s Roma Dream Fading After Injury Blow and Malen Surge

Loan Watch: Tottenham Starlet Mikey Moore Shines at Rangers as Spurs Weigh Summer Decision

Loan Watch: Is Luka Vuskovic Ready for Tottenham After Hamburg Breakthrough in the Bundesliga?