Tisdale eyes Edwards return

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale wants Kyle Edwards to follow the lead of West Brom team-mate Kane Wilson and extend his loan spell with the Grecians.

Wilson was given the green light from the Baggies to remain in the South West for the remainder of the campaign after his initial five-month period had elapsed.

The 17-year-old made eight appearances in his first spell while 19-year-old Edwards has enjoyed ten outings in League Two and 14 in total, scoring one goal to date.

Having come up through the West Brom academy, Edwards was an unused substitute in a League Cup match against Norwich City back in 2015 but has yet to play first-team football for the West Midlanders.

He jumped at the chance to join Exeter to gain valuable experience but has mainly been used from the bench, with his loan stint now up as well.

However Tisdale would love to keep him until the end of the campaign but knows that there are other factors to consider.

“I'm hoping he'll be with us,” he said. “I believe we have that agreement with West Brom but it's not just us and West Brom, the player has a say in it and there's all sorts of things that go on behind the scenes that are relevant and very important to people.”

He has started three games and come on in seven other league encounters, and the boss feels that the Dudley-born prospect could really come into his own over the final four months of the campaign.

“I think he'll play a bigger part in the second half of the season now he's settled and got to know us and we've got to know him,” he added.

“So we would be hopeful of him contributing even more in the second half but first of all we have to make that signing.”

Exeter were beaten 2-0 by West Brom in the FA Cup third round last time out and must now concentrate their efforts on a promotion push.

Results have been patchy in recent times with wins followed by losses but they are still in eighth spot in the standings and just one point and one place outside the play-off zone.

In fact, victory over Coventry City at St James Park this weekend could see the Grecians move up to third if other results go their way, with the top of the League two table so congested.

Tisdale could do with more production from his front players, however, with 35 goals from 25 games not a great return and only Jayden Stockley reaching double figures for the campaign to date.

City are as short as 2/1 with bookmakers on gamblingkingz.co.uk to beat Coventry on Saturday, with the Sky Blues on offer at 8/5 and a glance at the upcoming fixture list suggests they could certainly do with all three points.

Tisdale will take his men to Meadow Lane for a clash with second-placed Notts County on January 20 before they square off with table-topping Luton at Kenilworth Road on February 3.