Boss on Preston, the FA Cup, injuries and the transfer window

NEIL Adams believes a good cup run would impact positively on Norwich City’s season as a whole.

The Canaries’ boss, speaking ahead of his first taste of FA Cup football as a manager at Preston North End on Saturday, says winning games, in any competition, can help it become a habit.

“Some people say it could have a detrimental effect because of the amount of games you’ve got, but the nature of it means the further you go in it, the more games you’re winning,” he told Norwich City TV at the Club’s Colney Training Centre on Friday.

“You see that when you’re winning games you get that momentum and you can’t wait for that next one to come.

“We certainly want to win it – it would be great to be in the hat for the Fourth Round and we’ll be doing everything we can to win the game. The further you go, the more the excitement builds.

“Preston are doing really well in their own division. It could be your typical FA Cup atmosphere and type of game on Saturday. I’m sure they’ll be up for it with the home crowd behind them, and they’ll see it as an opportunity to progress as much as we will.”
 


Leading into the tie, Adams has a number of fitness issues to contend against with Kyle Lafferty (quadricep) and Lewis Grabban (Achilles) doubts and Martin Olsson and Alex Tettey both definitely absent after routine knee injections.

The match also comes too soon for Carlos Cuellar (calf) and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (knee), plus the returning Elliott Bennett, who picked up a hamstring strain towards the end of his loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion. Javi Garrido (groin), however, is fit and will be in the squad.

With the January transfer window offering clubs a chance to assess their squads before the second half of the season, Adams revealed his priority is to keep hold of his players.

“We’ve said that all along. Barring exceptional offers for players, then we hope that we can,” he said.

“We’ll be looking in the transfer window too, to look at players who are not just ready if one leaves, but to improve the squad as well.

“We’ll be as active as we can but the priority will be the keep this group of players that we feel will be good enough.”

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