Amid a difficult start to life back in the Championship, Norwich City will aim to get back on track when they welcome Huddersfield Town to Carrow Road on Tuesday night.
The Canaries went down 2-1 to Hull City at the weekend, while the Terriers ended their losing streak with a 3-1 success over Stoke City.
Match preview
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A sublime free kick from Marcelino Nunez was all that Norwich had to cheer during their trip to Hull, as Dean Smith's side had already conceded twice before the 22-year-old newcomer fired home to reduce the deficit in the second period.
A brace from Oscar Estupinan did the damage as Norwich's struggles in the second tier continued, but Smith has affirmed that there is no need to press the panic button just yet, even though portions of the away fanbase certainly made their feelings clear.
The Canaries have only taken one point from a possible nine in the embryonic stages of the campaign, with an EFL Cup penalty shootout victory providing their only glimmer of sunlight so far, and it is also just one win in their last four Championship home games for the hosts.
Smith's side can take some solace in the fact that both of their defeats so far this term have come on the road, but the fixture schedule is not getting any kinder to the injury-hit Canaries, whose upcoming opponents experienced far better fortunes at the weekend.
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Danny Schofield could very well be in the doghouse at home after nearly admitting that Huddersfield's 3-1 triumph over Stoke was a more joyful experience than the birth of his children, which only emphasised the importance of the Terriers' first win of the season.
Huddersfield had kicked off their Championship campaign with back-to-back defeats to Burnley and Birmingham City, as well as being thrashed 4-1 by Preston North End in the EFL Cup, but Schofield's side took their chances on Saturday.
After Lewis Baker saw an early penalty saved by Lee Nicholls, Huddersfield netted through Yuta Nakayama, Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes. Baker had made amends for his penalty miss by levelling the scores at 1-1, but the Potters' captain's effort was in vain.
Having ended a three-game losing streak in the second tier, the next match cannot come quickly enough for Huddersfield, who were counting their lucky stars somewhat as Stoke missed chance after chance to claw their way back into the encounter at the John Smith's Stadium.
A record of just two defeats from their last 15 away matches in the Championship does stand the Terriers in good stead, but they will not need reminding of what went down the last time that they made the trip to Carrow Road, as Norwich hit them for seven without reply in April 2021.
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Team News
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Norwich's left-back crisis has only worsened over the past few days, as Smith witnessed makeshift defender Jacob Sorensen come off after suffering a stress fracture to his foot in the defeat to Hull, and the Norwich boss has admitted that the Dane will now be out for a number of weeks.
Teenage midfielder Liam Gibbs came on to deputise for Sorensen at the weekend - Kenny McLean moved to left-back in the process - but with Sam McCallum and Dimitris Giannoulis already sidelined, Smith may consider using Ben Gibson on that side this week.
Sam Byram, Adam Idah, Isaac Hayden and Jonathan Rowe also remain out for the hosts, who should consider an attacking reshuffle as Onel Hernandez and Josh Sargent fight for their spots in the first XI. Smith will also hope that Teemu Pukki shakes off a foot bruise in time to lead the line.
As for the visitors, Schofield did not pick up any fresh concerns at the weekend, and only David Kasumu (hamstring) and Matty Pearson (foot) should miss out on Tuesday.
Chelsea loanee Tino Anjorin would certainly fancy his chances on the right-hand side amid Norwich's defensive injury woes, but he was hooked for a more effective Duane Holmes just after the hour mark at the weekend after taking a knock.
Holmes's 30-minute cameo saw him set up both Ward and Rhodes's goals on Saturday, and the USA international could be the only change to an otherwise unaltered XI for the Terriers.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Omobamidele, Gibson; Ramsey, McLean, Nunez; Sargent, Pukki, Hernandez
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Turton, Nakayama, Lees; Kesler-Hayden, Rudoni, Hogg, Ruffels; Holmes, Ward, Thomas
We say: Norwich City 1-2 Huddersfield Town
With Norwich suffering injury after injury at left-back, Huddersfield know exactly which area of the final third to target, and Holmes will certainly be fired up to produce the goods after his two assists off the bench at the weekend.
The Canaries will threaten on the attack as ever, especially with Huddersfield facing a barrage of shots against Stoke, but the momentum is with Schofield's side, and we are backing them to take advantage of Norwich's injury and confidence woes to keep their revival going.
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Ben Knapton
