For the last two seasons, of course, this particular international break has come at exactly the right time for the Canaries.
It gave them two weeks in which to start the hunt for a new manager after first Nigel Worthington's exit in that poisonous autumn of 2006 and then Peter Grant's decision to fall on his own sword this time last year.
Come 2008 and current City boss Glenn Roeder is at least on far firmer ground job-wise. That is not on the agenda. Finding a new owner might be; a new manager, no.
What is also high on everyone's agenda this weekend is working out just how the Canaries can swiftly return to winning ways – kicking off away at Ashton Gate in eight days time where, hopefully, Mr D'Urso won't lie in wait.
“We wouldn't really want a break at this time,” said City winger Lee Croft, after last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to a ten-man Derby County side left spirits at a rather low ebb. Sitting 21st in the table is not what everyone had in mind for the second week in October – even if the play-off pack were still just a mere five points distant.
“Especially after a defeat – you'd much rather get straight back into it,” he added. “But obviously the international breaks come round and we'll use these two week to recuperate, get ourselves together, work on a few things on the training ground and, hopefully, prepare for Bristol and to get three points.”
Not everyone, of course, has the full two weeks 'off'. Canary winger Wes Hoolahan teed up the Republic of Ireland's opening goal in Dublin last night in their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest – Hoolahan completing 45 minutes for Giovanni Trapattoni before being replaced by Blackburn's Keith Treacy.
Tonight and City's on-loan full-back Ryan Bertrand will be on centre stage – or if not, on the bench – for the England Under-21 qualifier against Wales at Ninian Park.
Meanwhile David Marshall's weekend will feature a place on the bench at Hampden Park tomorrow as Scotland play host to Norway in their Group Nine World Cup qualifier.
Croft, however, can concentrate all his thoughts on the trip to Ashton Gate. He will, of course, now have to keep one eye firmly over his shoulder as City new-boy David Bell finally comes 'on stream' after that ankle-hit delay to his City career.
A late substitute against the Rams last Saturday, Bell's ability to play left or right – and Hoolahan's slip from favour – could yet find the pair working in tandem. Whether or not that will prove too 'open' for Roeder's liking is just another one of the big selection posers looming as the Canaries try to put that Rams defeat behind them.
“That's the nice thing about football – if you don't get the result, there's always the next game and usually it comes quickly and you can get over it and put it right,” said Croft.
“But after that defeat on Saturday, we've got a long wait now which isn't nice,” said Croft. “But, as I said, hopefully we'll use it to our advantage.”
It will at least give everyone the chance to get to know the on-loan Leroy Lita slighty better before the Reading striker prepares to make his own return to Bristol City. ow long his stay in Norfolk is going to last thereafter was the matter of some debate today.
Guaranteed to be in a Canary shirt until after the Burnley game on November 1, various reports had Queen's Park Rangers making a move for the 'unsettled' Royals star once opportunity then knocked.
For though, in theory, the full-time transfer window does not re-open until January 1, there is little to stop Rs' boss Iain Dowie making an 'emergency oan' move for the 24-year-old – and all then 'with a view..' to making the short switch up the M4 permanent come the New Year. Certainly money won't be an issue at Loftus Road given their billionaire backers intent on taking their 'boutique club' up to the Premiership this season.
“He looks sharp,” was Croft's considered verdict this week. “He only trained with us once before Saturday's game and, as I say, he was really sharp in training.
“We know what qualities he's got and we trained again with him on Monday morning and I think he only showed glimpses of what he can do on Saturday.
“I'm sure that there's a lot to come from him over the month he's here. He's a good player – and a proven player as well. So we just need to get used to eachother and I'm sure he'll score goals for us.”
If he can just added that extra edge – and, above all, end product – to Norwich's game then Mr Carl Moore's latest player investment will be worth its weight in gold. Norwich need some momentum; something to take them in a forward direction rather than anything that sees them slmping back to whence they came 12, long months ago.
“In games like the Southampton game, we play good football – it's just frustrating because we haven't come away with the results.”
The fact that Wolves are heading for Norfolk straight after the trip to Bristol keeps the pressure on.
“They're two massive games,” said Croft. “We played well at Bristol last year; it's a nice place to go and play, so we know what we need to do – it's all good playing well, but we need to get the results.”
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