Liverpool winger Ryan Kent joins Coventry City on four-month loan deal

Coventry City have confirmed the arrival of Liverpool winger Ryan Kent on a four-month youth loan deal. The 18-year-old will act as a replacement for Sky Blues starlet James Maddison, who is currently sidelined through injury.

Maddison, regarded as one of League One's most promising young talents, suffered damage to the bone and ligament in his ankle during a 2-1 away defeat to Midlands rivals Walsall on 22 August and is expected to be sidelined until January. Manager Tony Mowbray confirmed his desire to sign Kent following the opening of the Football League's emergency loan window this week and is delighted to have signed the England youth international amid competition from several other clubs.

"Ryan is a player we've been tracking for some time and we're really excited about his potential," he told Coventry's official website after confirmation of the move. "With the injury to James Maddison, I felt it was important to bring in a player of a similar ilk and someone who possesses that technical ability in forward areas.

"He can handle the ball, play off both feet, play anywhere behind the main striker and has plenty of pedigree having featured for the England Under-20s last week. There is a lot of competition in the squad at the moment but we hope he can come here and enjoy the environment we've created, and flourish."

Kent has spent the last 11 years as a member of Liverpool's youth set-up and has featured regularly for both their U18 and U21 teams. Although yet to make a single appearance in senior football, he is clearly held in high regard by Brendan Rodgers as evidenced by his place in a 30-man senior squad for this summer's pre-season tour to Thailand, Australia and Malaysia. The player featured once on that trip, replacing Divock Origi in the 62nd minute of a 2-1 victory over three-time A-League champions Brisbane Roar.

He joins a Coventry side who have bounced back from a difficult 2014/15 season in which they only retained their third tier status with a final day defeat of relegated Crawley at Broadfield Stadium, beginning Mowbray's first full campaign in charge with four wins from their opening six league matches.

Newcastle loanee Adam Armstrong has been instrumental in that run contributing five goals including consecutive braces against Wigan and Millwall.

They travel to Scunthorpe on 12 September.