One surprise and one nigh-on certainty – that was the story of Glenn Roeder's team selection ahead of this afternoon's home clash with early pace-setters Birmingham City.
The surprise was the disappearance of on-loan teenager Elliot Omozusi.
Less of a surprise when it emerged that the England Under-19 right-back had picked up a slight thigh strain in training yesterday and would, therefore, be sitting the Blues clash out.
At least at full-back, Canary chief Glenn Roeder had the kind of strength in depth he sadly lacks elsewhere in the team – in came Jon Otsemobor. Job done.
The second change came up front where Jamie Cureton made way for Ninian Park hero Arturo Lupoli. It wasn't the biggest surprise of the summer. By his own admittance, Cureton felt that his game suffered once that eighth minute penalty had bobbled wide of the upright against the Bluebirds.
By the same token, of course, Lupoli's game had hit new heights once he turned the contest on its head in the final 15 minutes.
Cureton's confidence flattened; Lupoli's confidence flying – it wasn't exactly managerial rocket science to work out what might happen, therefore, team-wise.
Elsewhere and Darel Russell's stand-in role up-front looked certain to continue – as would Roeder's ever-lengthening quest to find a full-time replacement. He had little more than 48 hours to go before the summer's transfer window slammed shut. After that and he would have another seven days to wait before the 'emergency loan' window opened for the autumn.
At least this season City had every right to argue that their on-going lack of a physical presence up front was, indeed, an emergency. Ex-City loan hero Martin Taylor was likely to have one of his easier afternoons out in the Championship on that score. On the floor, he might struggle; 'up top' and the fear was that 'Tiny' would just mop up.
Wes Hoolahn was another interesting one – removed at half-time after apparently shirking a tackle or two, he kept his place ahead of Lee Croft. Whether he would take the chance to make amends today would be worth watching.
As for the bench and there was a first sighting of on-loan Tottenham youngster Troy Archibald-Henville – and all at Jason Shackell's expense.
Given that there was heavy interest from Wolves earlier this summer in the former Canary skipper, his absence 48-hours ahead of the window shutting would inevitably get the tongues wagging. With Gary Doherty on the road to revovery and Archibald-Henville in the building and – from a Spurs perspective expected to play games at some stage as part of his on-going education – five into four didn't go when it came to City's centre-half department.
At the other end of the team, the problem was just the reverse – that three into four didn't go either…
Norwich City (4-4-2): Marshall; Otsemobor, Kennedy, Stefanovic, Bertrand; Hoolahan, Clingan, Fotheringham, Pattison; Russell, Lupoli. Subs (not used): Nelson, Croft, Cureton, Koroma, Archibald-Henville.
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