Norwich City boss makes ‘difficult’ Stoke City point as injuries bite..
Latest Stoke City news from StokeonTrentLive as Mark Robins looks for a second successive victory – but Norwich City are facing issues of their own..
Norwich City midfielder Marcelino Nunez has shaken off an ankle problem to be fit to face Stoke City on Saturday (3pm), but Matej Jurasek will miss the game with a thigh problem.
The Canaries are unbeaten in their last eight encounters with Stoke, and have managed to score three goals in four of those meetings. However, the Potters did claim a draw when the sides met at the bet365 Stadium back in October, so pride and points will be on the agenda at Carrow Road.
Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup revealed that Chilean Nunez had been in training all week preparing to make his return, but he is still missing key players elsewhere.
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Defender Callum Doyle is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season, while captain Kenny McLean remains ill. Playmaker Emil Marondes is sidelined with a hip problem, but both are nearing a return.
Thorup confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Jose Cordoba is likely to cover for Manchester City loanee Doyle, saying: “He has shown he is ready. He will step in and take that position tomorrow.”
As for Nunez, he added: “He’s been with us the whole week in training, so he’s back and will play. That’s really, really good.
“The midfielders we’ve played with have done a great job, but they had to go through 90 minutes some of them, so it’s good to have more midfielders available. In many ways really good.”
Jurasek, a January recruit from Slavia Prague, impressed in his first full start for the Canaries in their 1-1 draw with Hull, but has since developed a thigh problem.
Thorup explained: “He struggled a little bit against Hull, and probably the intensity was not what he’s used to. So he will be out for this weekend, but hopefully ready again next week.
“When we scanned it we could see that there was a little bit in his thigh, so we have to be careful about that. The physios have said it’s something that will settle within a couple of days, but it will be too big a risk to involve him in the game. We can see that it takes proper building to be ready to compete in the Championship.
“We don’t have anyone else back. Kenny is still out with an infection that we need to treat. He is on some medication and we’ll see if we can settle it down. Hopefully he’ll be better in five days’ time, that’s the plan. Let’s see, potentially ready for Blackburn next week.
