Those hoping to make the playoffs When Norwich City visits Leeds United this week, they will be missing a number of first team players. The Canaries come into the match fresh off a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Sheffield United on the road.
At kickoff, head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup selected a bench at Bramall Lane that had six young players who had combined for just two substitute league appearances. The most recent addition to their long list of injured players is center-back Jose Cordoba. The defender was ruled out of the trip to Elland Road after suffering a new knee injury, according to Thorup, after the FA Cup loss at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.
With Marcelino Nunez, Liam Gibbs, Jacob Sorensen, Anis Ben Slimane, Gabriel Forsyth, and Tony Springett all out, Thorup’s midfield options have been severely impacted. Due to post-Brexit constraints, new recruit Matej Jurasek is unable to play, while star striker Borja Sainz will serve the third of his six-match suspension for spitting. Since the January transfer window opened, Ashley Barnes, Christian Fassnacht, Kaide Gordon, and Grant Hanley have already left the team, leaving the Canaries with just the bare minimum.
“Playing against the best teams in the league is always exciting,” Thorup stated prior to the match against Sheffield United. Among them are Sheffield United and Leeds, who will play next week.
It’s always thrilling.
“We go there to win and to try and win the way we want to do it, not to consider it as a test or an experience. It has a significant impact on both the remainder of the season and the following one.
“There are numerous facets to this, including the psychological component, which deals with our plans, methods, creation of our passing game, and level of daring.
“That’s the style we always have, even travelling away from home knowing it’s been difficult for us, but we have to learn it, keep on doing it, take the learning out of it and see if we can be a little better in the next one.”
City is now five points outside of the play-off spots in 11th place.
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