Esse and Yang ready to face Stoke in FA Cup

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard says new loan signings Romain Esse and Yang Min-hyeok are "fit, fresh and ready" to play in the FA Cup third round tie at Stoke City on Saturday.

The Sky Blues have bolstered the squad by bringing in wingers Esse and Yang from Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

"I'm very happy we've done our business early with Romain and Minny," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"An area of the squad we knew we needed to strengthen. We've got good players in wide areas but we know we play them a lot.

"It's an area where there is a lot of high intensity needed to be on top of your game, to have impact. I'm very happy with the players.

"He [Esse] is very hungry to come in and do well. That's the sort of players I want. They will offer us a lot."

Lampard said the club will have to "wait and see" whether there will be any more arrivals in the January transfer window.

"There is a long way to go in the window," he said. "I think if we can help the squad to make it stronger, it's something we will and should look at."

In other positive team news for Coventry, Lampard confirmed that top goalscorer Brandon Thomas-Asante, who has netted 10 times this season, is "very close" to a return after missing the past nine games with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Victor Torp is on track to be back for the Leicester game in the Championship on 17 January, but Kaine Kesler-Hayden is expected to be out for several weeks.

Lampard said he loves the FA Cup and understands how important it is to try to win every game.

"I understand the passion of it, what it means to the fans," he added. "I remember one of my first FA Cup memories was watching Coventry win the FA Cup [in 1987]."