Team news: City v Preston North End

Klose limped off during the defeat to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening, and hasn’t recovered in time for the visit of North End to Carrow Road.

“Timm Klose isn’t available for tomorrow,” Daniel Farke told the media on Friday lunchtime. “He has a strain on a glute muscle. If everything works well he can return for the Cardiff match next week but we have to wait to see how it develops.”

Tom Trybull and James Husband, who were ruled out of the midweek game at Forest, will both miss this weekend’s game. The midfielder is suffering from a back strain but is expected back for the Cardiff match, while Husband – who has groin problems – is likely to have to wait a little longer.

Farke also revealed there are further fitness doubts over Harrison Reed and Marley Watkins. “Harrison and Marley had some concerns after Nottingham Forest but they joined us during training today. Marley had some problems with his hips which has caused problems with his groin – there’s no muscle injury but we have to see if he’s able to sprint tomorrow.

“Harrison got a hit on his feet which caused some pain but he’s a tough guy and I hope he’ll be able to play tomorrow.”

The growing injury list has led Farke to consider calling Alex Pritchard into the first-team. Pritchard returned to action for the Under-23s on Monday – when he featured for the first 45 minutes against Wolves – following his ankle operation in the summer.

“Alex Pritchard has been training for nine days now and he looks sharp and looks good during training. He looked pretty good during the first half for the Under-23s. When I look at him right now I hope he can join a bit sooner than we initially thought. To be honest I can’t wait to have him back on the pitch.

“We thought about giving him a bit longer for the Under-23s this weekend, and there were some thoughts about taking him in the first-team squad to give him some extra motivation to help with his recovery, but we will have to see how Marley and Harrison get on with their injuries. But the main thing is to have him more minutes for the U23s, and then see how he develops.”