COLIN Doyle is as big a figure for City as Charlie Wyke, according to Stuart McCall.

The Irishman will be back in goal at Oldham tomorrow after ten weeks out with a knee injury.

Rouven Sattelmaier kept a clean sheet in the first game he sat out at Shrewsbury – but City have failed to record a shut-out in 13 games since.

McCall said: “I don’t think people realised how much Colin’s influence has been missing in the dressing room and on the pitch.

“We talked about (the importance of having) Charlie at the beginning of the season and Colin fits into that category as well.

“His consistency on the pitch and character within the squad is very important for us and it’s good to have him back again.”

City’s four-goal horror show against Wimbledon last week took the tally to 25 goals conceded in their last 11 outings.

They have conceded 45 in all – the highest among the top ten – and only three sides in League One have worse defensive records.

Sattelmaier and the defence were slammed for the soft goals they gave away against the Dons. McCall believes the change of personnel likely this weekend can help to plug the hole.

He added: “You look at the last two home games – Northampton had three attempts on goal and scored twice, Wimbledon four on target and scored them all.

“That’s not acceptable and we’ve got to get that end right. We must stop that rot.

“The addition of new faces will help because they won’t be affected by the lack of confidence that’s running through a lot of individuals at this moment.

“Up to the last month, we’ve probably exceeded expectations. But the month just gone has cancelled that all out.

“That can happen. I remember at Motherwell we lost four on the bounce in December and then won six in a row.

“That’s how football can change. But it can only change by taking the next opportunity.

“We can’t take back the recent results and the five losses we’ve had have been devastating.

“Every manager will make errors of judgement whether it’s the side you pick, the formation, the players – that goes for even the top managers like Klopp, Mourinho or whoever. I’m no different to that.

“Right now, we as a group are letting the support down. Nobody else can change it apart from us and that’s the big challenge.”