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Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup has revealed why he withdrew captain Kenny McLean ahead of his side’s game against Preston North End.
McLean had originally been named in the Canaries starting XI but was taken out at the last moment before the start of the match.
Norwich went on to lose 1-0 at Carrow Road to Preston, courtesy of Milutin Osmajic’s fifth-minute opener.
The Norwich boss explained McLean’s absence to local media following the final whistle.
McLean withdrawn from Norwich squad with illness
Kenny McLean x Norwich City
The 33-year-old was originally part of the starting line-up when Norwich announced their team on social media.
However, shortly after, the club’s media team announced that there was to be a change, with McLean withdrawn and replaced by Manchester City loanee Jacob Wright.
Speaking with BBC Radio Norfolk after the game, Thorup said: “Kenny had to go out which is never ideal for us because he is so important, for the way we play and the group’s experience.
“He has been ill but was OK yesterday, but felt in the warm-up he couldn’t really breathe.”
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Norwich will hope McLean recovers quickly
The midfielder has been a key player for the Canaries this season, making 23 starts in the Championship as the side’s captain and providing three assists.
He’s provided plenty of bite in the midfield, registering an average of 2.3 tackles per game, while no doubt being a leader in the dressing room.
McLean in the Championship this season, as per WhoScored
Start (Sub)
23
Goals
0
Assists
3..
Tackles per 90
2.3
Interceptions per 90
0.8
Pass success rate
88.4%..
Being such a central figure, the Canaries will hope to have him back to full fitness as quickly as possible, with the club still hunting down a play-off place.
However, it won’t be the first time that Norwich have had to make do without McLean this season, with the Scotland international having received two separate four-match bans already this season, one for a straight red card against Middlesbrough, and the other for violent content.
Josh Sargent (left) & Johannes Hoff Thorup (right)
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Thorup discusses Preston loss
Though clearly McLean’s steel in midfield has spilled over on a couple of occasions this season, Norwich boss Thorup believes that physicality was a key feature of the loss to Preston.
Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, Thorup said: “My most important role is to make sure that they still know there is big belief in them because they are doing well. There will be ups and downs.
“We didn’t really find the rhythm and flow. We know they are a physical team, and their game plan is so much about duels and tackles, and a hard fight to kill the flow in the game and we prepared for that, but it’s hard.
“With some new faces in there they have to catch up with the rhythm and flow, and with Borja [Sainz] back after six games he also has to catch up.”
It’s a game Norwich would have expected to win with their push to challenge the teams sat in the play-off spots, but focus will now turn to getting back on track with Saturday’s game against league strugglers Hull City.
All eyes will be on when McLean makes a speedy enough recovery to make the starting XI as he could be vital to Norwich’s fortunes for the rest of this season.
