Team News | Hernández to miss remainder of season

Onel Hernández has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, David Wagner has confirmed.

Onel Hernández has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, David Wagner has confirmed.

The Cuban winger suffered a broken foot in training this week ahead of the visit of Sunderland to Carrow Road.

"This week, we got bad news injury-wise. The good news is Grant (Hanley) is ok. Nacho (Marcelino Núñez) has a hip injury, not too bad but he will miss Saturday. We hope he will be ok for Rotherham," Wagner explained.

"(Shane) Duffy got a routine scan on Monday and progression is not as good or as quick as we hoped. He won't be back before the international break. Onel Hernández has broken his foot, he will be out for the rest of the season."

It's the latest injury for a wide player at the club with Jonathan Rowe already out.

The head coach also provided an update on Rowe and the alternative options that he still has in the squad.

"It will take time. We are three weeks post-injury. He won't be back in March, it'll be April. We have to be patient for another few weeks to get a clear timeframe.

"(Borja Sainz) has made some great steps so far. He's quite reliable in the defensive part he has to bring to the team. He asks for the ball at the right moment in the pockets, can run in behind, is unselfishness when he needs to be. Fasi (Christian Fassnacht) has scored six or seven goals already, we have alternatives."

For this weekend, Wagner hopes to continue the current home form which sees Norwich nine games unbeaten in the league.

After a 3-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, the head coach is hoping for a reverse this time around.

"It is (a fortress). The credit goes to the players for what they have done, and the supporters for the atmosphere they have created. It's very important, we need to keep that mindset going.

"We need to be aggressive, sharp, and take the energy from the stands. This is what we'll prepare our team for, and hopefully we'll extend our home record which is good.

"We saw before the quality that Sunderland have. We conceded a deserved defeat, we still feel like we have to correct something. We have a chance to show that we are better than that first game.

"A very dynamic, very intensive squad that likes to dominate the ball. If they have time on the ball, they can express themselves and enjoy themselves. They were in the play-offs last season, and they're in and around it this season again."