Can City find a way against Robins’ improving Potters?

Who knows what new injury hell will be revealed this week before Stoke’s visit on Saturday?

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Suffice to say, if there’s one thing guaranteed in this most inconsistent of seasons, it’s that there’ll be one or more players dropping out of contention by 3pm tomorrow.

In hindsight, the addition of a minefield at Colney probably wasn’t the best idea.

Our opponents will arrive with greater momentum. Since Mark Robins arrived at the start of January, the Potters have won two, drawn three and lost two but they come to Carrow Road off the back of a stirring 3-1 comeback win over Swansea at the weekend having gone 1-0 down with only half an hour left.

Robins has almost exclusively used a standard 4-2-3-1 formation since his arrival and I wouldn’t expect him to veer away from that tomorrow.

In goal, Viktor Johansson is widely regarded as one of the best keepers in the league and will prove a formidable barrier.

At right-back, former Colchester wonderkid Junior Tchamedeu appears to have finally made the position his own, starting ahead of USA international, Lynden Gooch.

At left-back, Robins has been assessing his options with midfielder Jordan Thompson somewhat surprisingly given the start there against Swansea for the first time. Before that, ex-Sheffield United stalwart Enda Stevens, Gooch and youngster Josh Wilson-Esbrand have all given it a go, so the jury’s out on who gets to try and contain (probably) Matej Jurasek.

At centre-back, Scotsman Michael Rose and Tottenham loanee Ashley Phillips appear to have snuck ahead of Ben Gibson in the pecking order, and I’d expect that to remain the case for Saturday.

In defensive midfield, Dutch box-to-box man Wouter Burger is the trusted starting option.

Alongside him against the Swans was specialist bell-end Ben Pearson, although I don’t know if we’re going to be lucky enough for Robins to send out his least-talented midfielder two games in a row. Especially as the far more gifted Lewis Baker – who replaced him off the bench against Swansea – pinged one in from halfway to Crewe on Saturday.

The other option would be Japanese recruit Tatsuki Seki, who has also been used occasionally.

In attacking midfield, Irish loanee Andrew Moran started in the 10 position against Swansea and the smart money would be on that continuing. Korean Bae Jun-Ho is the likely other option although he sometimes lines up on the right wing, as he did against Swansea.

On the left was another loanee, Lewis Koumas, and I’d be surprised if these three were not the starters against City. Other options in the attacking midfield areas would be Portuguese winger Andre Vidigal and Dutch forward Million Manhoef, who prefers to play off another striker.

Having lost loanee Tom Cannon to a permanent move to Sheffield United, Stoke replaced him with another loan – Ipswich reject and Iraqi international Ali Al-Hamadi, whose mobility and bustling style can be problematic to deal with.

Other options are youngsters Nathan Lowe, Emre Tezgel, or old-timer Sam Gallagher.

I’ve given up predicting Norwich results. All I will say is that I’d quite like to see Lewis Dobbin unleashed in the number ten space behind Josh Sargent with Borja Sainz and Jurasek on the wings. I think his movement in central areas could give us an extra dimension element in creating chances.