Despite spending nearly £130m in the summer transfer window, eight of Coventry City's starting XI against Tottenham were part of last season's Championship title-winning squad.

And for a second successive game, Loum Tchaouna was omitted from the matchday squad, while Yann Gboho, who is yet to make a Premier League appearance, was also absent.

Gboho, 25, made his Coventry debut in September's Carabao Cup defeat by Aston Villa, before scoring on his senior debut for Ivory Coast in the international break.

There were hopes the winger would feature against Newcastle when the Premier League resumed, but he was an unused substitute in the 4-1 victory.

Post-match, head coach Frank Lampard hinted at the difficulties of keeping a 25-man squad happy and said: "We're a promoted team and we need everybody. And a few lads need to know that, and a lot of the lads knew that tonight."

Tchaouna and Gboho are just two of the 12 players the Sky Blues signed this summer with the intention of improving the quality and quantity of their squad.

It remains unclear who Lampard views as his starting striker after seven games, but Taiwo Awoniyi, Sidiki Cherif and Ellis Simms all have their own strengths and provide him with different options.

The wide positions, however, have left supporters scratching their heads.

Despite having Tchaouna and Gboho at his disposal, Lampard has opted to play last season's stallwart Ephron Mason-Clark, as well as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Brandon Thomas-Asante, in the wide positions.

The reliance on Thomas-Asante has perhaps proved most surprising, with the forward featuring in all seven games so far, predominantly on the wings.

In Thursday's news conference, Lampard confirmed Tchaouna and Gboho are "training and fit", dismissing rumours of any fallout.

"Sometimes there's not the drama behind it that people presume," he said. "They are adapting to how we are, how we play and how we train.

"The idea that they come straight into the team because of that price tag is not right. They need to adapt a little bit.

"We want the most from them and for them to succeed at Coventry. Sometimes I just have to make decisions that drive the group."

How soon Tchaouna and Gboho, who cost a combined £30m, can work their way back into the matchday squad remains to be seen.

But it was unity and togetherness that propelled Coventry City to the Premier League as Championship title-winners, and they will need everyone pulling in the same direction if they are to retain their place in the top flight.