Boss says reinforcements have set the Canaries up nicely
NEIL Adams says the business done during the transfer window means Norwich City are well-equipped to deal with their busy fixture schedule, resuming this Saturday at Cardiff City (3pm).The Canaries brought in ten players in total, with Adams deepening his resources in all departments.
“We play Saturday-Tuesday for the next three weeks, and with games coming thick and fast you’re going to pick up an injury or two or maybe a suspension,” he told Norwich City TV.
“If we want to be competing at the top of the table, we need to make sure we don’t have three or four injuries that really hurt is and then you’re not able to field what you feel is a strong enough squad to compete in this division.
“With the games coming up it’s even more important to be pleased with the business we did in the transfer window.”
City’s boss delivered his latest injury bulletin ahead of the trip to South Wales.
“Vadis (Odjidja-Ofoe) had a slight thigh strain when he joined us, but he’s trained fine so we’re hopeful he’ll be able to join the squad for the first time,” he revealed.
“There are no problems with Ignasi (Miquel) and Jos (Hooiveld); they’ve trained with us as normal and they will go to Cardiff as well, so good news on them.
“Gary (Hooper) has trained with us partly this week so is obviously very close; Jonny (Howson) will start training with the group next week hopefully. We’re really pleased with those two; they’ve made a little bit quicker progress than thought, so hopefully they’re very close now to being back with us.
“We’ve just got to check one or two of the international players. We’re hoping, fingers crossed, that we’ve got more or less everybody back, or if not then certainly when Jonny and Gary are back with us very soon.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Bluebirds have lost just once in the league so far this season, triumphing in both of their home matches, but that doesn’t lessen the Canaries’ ambition to win according to Adams.
“I’ve said all the time, there are no secrets. Anybody watching us, looking to see what we’re trying to do – it will be the same as every game, we’ll look to try and win it,” he added.
“It’s a very tough one of course, particularly with them being at home. They’re no different from anyone else, they’re going to want to come at us and try and win the game.
“There will no difference in the strategy, of course we’ll look at Cardiff but the aim is to go down to Wales and come back with three points.”
City recorded their first away victory of 2014 at East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town, and their manager says that result will improve their confidence heading to Cardiff.
“It was good to go there and be able to say ‘if we can win there, we can anywhere’. We felt we were really in control that game,” he explained.
“There will be other teams that will pose us different problems, but the confidence and spirit we’ve got in the group at the minute is excellent, so obviously we’re confident going into games.
“We have two away games, and we’re looking at going into those to try and win them before we get back to Carrow Road. It’s a good start up to the international break, but it’s important now that we keep that going.”