Fri Sep 09, 2016 4:15 pm
Norwich City get back to league football tomorrow as they entertain Cardiff City, hoping to put the disappointing Birmingham defeat behind them.
Vital Norwich City
Friday 9th September
As usual, Alex Neil spoke to the media at Colney on Friday lunchtime and gave an update on his squad.
The good news is that there are a number of players back in contention for a recall or seat on the bench for this game.
Alex Pritchard, Graham Dorrans, Cameron Jerome, Ivo Pinto and John Ruddy are all available, leaving Neil with a selection problem.
The return of John Ruddy gives Neil a big choice to make between the sticks, although it seems to me that Michael McGovern hasn't done anything wrong, so is unlikely to be dropped. That injury came at the worst possible time for Ruddy and he now faces the very real prospect of having to play second fiddle to the new keeper, watching from the bench.
You would assume Ivo Pinto would go straight back into the team in place of Steven Whittaker, who had a nightmare afternoon at St. Andrew's last time out. Cameron Jerome is another almost certain starter as it seems unikely that Nelson Oliviera will be ready to start. I'd expect him to be on the bench along with Alex Pritchard who had a great 45 minutes in mid-week for the U23s.
Steven Naismith will need to up his game massively if he is to stave off the challenge offered by the new man. With Wes Hoolahan close to undroppable at the moment, it will be interesting to see if Neil will have the nerve to drop Naismith in the near future.
As it is, Pritchard is unlikely to start but if he comes on an plays well, the clamour from the stands to drop Naismith will quickly escalate.
Other than that, it's as you were with no new injuries or issues reported after the international break.