Mark Robins has spoken about the 'tough period' Kyle McFadzean has been through when he's continued to play for Coventry City amid the backdrop of his mum being ill.

The Sky Blues centre-half and deputy skipper revealed in a heart-breaking instagram post this week that he'd experienced the "worst day of his life" on Tuesday when his mum died. Players past and present responded with an outpouring of support in a string of touching messages to the 36-year-old defender, who is expected to be missing from Saturday's CBS Arena clash with Stoke City (3pm kick-off).

"Obviously it's a personal tragedy for Kyle but also for his family and everybody that knows him and knew his mum," said the City boss. "It's been a really tough period for him and he's played through it. I don't want to talk too much about it because it's not for me to speak about, but we are there for him. Everybody's there for him and he knows that and he's dealing with it in his own way.

"We have to give him that space to be able to do that. He's the head of his family, the leader of his family and is going to have to go through a period of real difficulty and grief, so he has the space and the support of everybody."

Fellow central defender Bobby Thomas insists that he and his team-mates will have McFadzean in their thoughts before and during the game, with the intention of doing well and getting a result for him.

"I'd just like to say rest in peace for his mum," said Thomas. "Obviously she was a big character in his life and now it must be really tough for Kyle. So we're all there for him. And let's say, God bless."

McFadzean is a big character at the club, both on and off the field,and has helped the likes of Thomas settle following his arrival from Burnley in the summer.

"I think he's a big part of it for the whole team, not just myself and all the other new players that have come in," said the 22-year-old. "It's difficult when he's not around, not in training or in the team. It's hard to explain, but you can feel the energy he brings to the training ground because he's been at the club for such a long time.

"He's getting on a bit now on the pitch and so he's got the experience behind him and he knows how to drag you through a game and talk to you and organise and help. He's really good at that."

Asked if the players are going to have to dig deep against Stoke to find that missing energy, Thomas said: "Yeah, I feel like we all know what's needed now. And to hear something and find out something so sad like that, you know, it just puts life into perspective. We'll all come together, I'm sure. He'll be in our thoughts before the game and whilst the game is going on, and hopefully it gives us that extra couple of percent just to kick on for him and enable us to do well for him and his family."