Alex Tettey will miss the next three weeks with an abductor muscle injury and there are doubts over whether or not Timm Klose needs an operation, Daniel Farke told the assembled media at Colney ahead of Friday nights’s crucial home game with Birmingham City.
Daniel Farke is about to speak to the media ahead of tomorrow night's game against Birmingham City. Live updates here ➡️ https://t.co/De0vAJZ9zt#ncfc pic.twitter.com/9W913ylzm7
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 17, 2019
Captain Tettey’s injury is a blow as he has been such a major part of the midfield this season. The physios have done very well in getting Alex available for almost every game, despite his dodgy knees and Farke suggested that he is expected back for the visit of Ipswich Town in mid-February.
Replacing Alex in the side will be a big decision but Farke has options. Kenny McLean, Tom Trybull and Louis Thompson are all fit and available, although Louis Thompson has had less time back and is yet to play for the first team since he dislocated his shoulder.
The outlook for Timm Klose is less clear and he has seen a specialist in London for injections but is currently in Switzerland seeing his own specialist. It’s possible that he may need an operation, which would see him out of action for around six weeks.
That length of time out could see the Canaries dip into the transfer market. William Remy, anyone?
It’s not all bad news though. Jamal Lewis and Emi Buendia have suffered no ill effects from their returns against West Brom and Grant Hanley is available again after suspension.
Marco Stiepermann is also back fit and Farke admitted that he has a decision to make about whether he should start Marco against Birmingham or not. He’s only missed a couple of games so, like Buendia, he won’t have lost much in the way of match fitness.
I’ve read that Moritz Leitner is back running again and Farke mentioned that he would hopefully join in with the squad after Sheffield United and Carlton Morris will play for the U23s on Monday, which is great news.
The City Head Coach also talked about Ben Marshall, stating that it was the player’s wish to go out on loan and he mentioned that Ivo Pinto is in talks with a Turkish club about a move but that he is relaxed about the situation and won’t use him again until the situation is clear about his future. In other words, he’ll be in the squad if he’s still here on 1st February.
The news about Klose and Tettey is a blow but as ever, one player’s disappointment is another’s opportunity.
OTBC