For City caretaker boss Jim Duffy it continues to go from bad to worse after it was revealed this afternoon that both Adam Drury and Dion Dublin will miss tomorrow's clash with Burnley at Turf Moor.
Drury limped out of the Canaries' latest miserable reverse on Saturday against Bristol City and Duffy admitted to the gathered press at Colney earlier today that it was in fact a calf injury that forced his early departure from the pitch.
Initial reports were that the ex-skipper had damaged his knee ligaments in a 50/50 challenge in the first-half ? a potentially much bigger blow – but the calf knock was actually sustained moments after coming back on for treatment.
His exit had bigger repercussions than expected as City struggled to regain their shape with Ian Murray and then Simon Lappin stepping into the luckless Drury's shoes, neither with much joy as the West Country side ran out 3-1 winners.
When the chips are down – which they so evidently are for the Norfolk club at the moment ? the last thing you need is your best players dropping like flies but at Carrow Road, when it rains, it pours.
“He got a block on the knee on Saturday and initially we suspected it was that which was causing his the problems,” said Duffy.
“But it was the second incident when he went to head the ball and his momentum carried him off the pitch. When he landed he jarred the back of the knee on his calf, so it's more the top end of the calf that's been damaged.
“It's good news in one aspect that it's not knee ligaments, but it's still going to be a problem for him so we won't know how long he'll be out for but he certainly won't be available for Burnley and we'll have to see about West Brom.”
Another player who looks set to miss City's showdown in Lancashire tomorrow is defender-cum-striker Dion Dublin, who is still struggling with the back niggle picked up in the 1-0 defeat at QPR just over two weeks ago.
The ageless Dublin, his usual reliable self in defence and attack until injury struck, is not a million miles away but the Turf Moor clash will come just a little too soon.
He was handed a place on the bench as coaching back-up on Saturday and whilst Duffy was keen to utilise the 38-year-old's leadership qualities from the side of the pitch, it is felt in the Canary camp that the 10-hour round trip to East Lancs might prove to be more of a hindrance than a help – especially if Duffy wants Dublin in his ranks for the daunting trip to big-spending West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
One bright, silver lining for Duffy though is the return to the squad of on-loan Chelsea star Jimmy Smith. Smith, who was expected to play some part of the Robins defeat, will definitely be part of the sixteen and with City in desperate need of some sort of boost, it would be a surprise not to see the midfield man start the game ? or at the very least, come off the bench.
With Rossi Jarvis coming in for criticism from some sections of the crowd, it might be a good time for a fresh face to give City some sort of impetus.
It's saying something when Canary hopes are being pinned on a 20-year-old loan player, but that is the predicament Norwich find themselves in at present.
It could be a deflected long-range effort that gets City motoring again, their luck has to turn soon and Duffy will be hoping and praying Smith has his shooting boots on come 7.45 tomorrow night.
“Jimmy Smith will definitely be part of the squad,” added Duffy.
“As I mentioned last week he is perhaps not quite ready to be at his very best, but we are short on numbers in that aspect, especially in midfield.”
“He's had an extra couple of days training and that is why I maybe didn't put him in against Bristol City. An extra three days through Saturday, Sunday and Monday. He's a young lad and has good natural fitness.
“But with the tempo of the game you need to make sure you're ready for it. There's always going to be an element of risk bringing players back from a long term injury and we want to make sure he's got the best chance possible.”
Tom Haylett
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