Norwich City boss confirms fresh injury blow as rotation hint given ahead of Leeds United clash
Leeds United’s midweek Championship hosts have a number of fitness issues to contend with.
Norwich City will be without Ben Chrisene for the visit of Leeds United on Tuesday with the defender suffering a concussion towards the end of last weekend’s 3-2 win at Derby County.
Chrisene replaced Ante Crnac in the 77th-minute of Saturday’s win at Pride Park and completed the game, but looks to have suffered the issue before full-time. He is the only fresh injury issue for Norwich to manage, with Onel Hernandez, Liam Gibbs, Ashley Barnes, Christian Fassnacht and Jacob Sørensen all still out - albeit the latter pair are back on the grass.
The visit of Leeds to Carrow Road presents a second game in four days for both sides and Norwich then host Hull City on Saturday, but head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup hinted he will avoid any significant rotation for the midweek clash. The Canaries boss provided a fitness update in his Monday press conference.
“Ben (Chrisene) suffered a mild concussion towards the end of the game, so we have to abide by protocol,” Thorup told The Pink Un on Monday. “He will sit out of the next two games. [For Barnes] it’s three weeks in a boot and then we have to assess if he needs a surgery. It’s the Achilles, the same as at the end of last season.
"We have to do everything we can to make sure that all the players are ready for the game. It's mostly the third game where you have to think about rotation - most players are able to play Saturday-Tuesday."
Leeds strengthened their early promotion credentials with Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Coventry City and even with club captain Ethan Ampadu absent, will be expected to take all three points from Carrow Road. Daniel Farke’s side sit three points above Norwich and have arrested a slow start by winning four of their last five and conceding just once in the process.
"It's a strong side,” Thorup added of Leeds. “I like the way they play. We have to make sure that we do our best in every phase of the game. I like these games, because you see what we are made of. It is no more than three points, but of course we can all see who will be up there at the end of the season.
“It's fair to say that Leeds will be, so we'll definitely get some answers about where we are. A lot of people still talk about what [Farke] did here, winning two Championship titles in a style the fans appreciated. I hope the fans show that tomorrow, but I hope that we give them a fight."