Team News | Wagner provides update on injuries

Head coach David Wagner has provided an update on his squad ahead of this Saturday's meeting with Huddersfield Town at Carrow Road (KO 3pm).

Head coach David Wagner has provided an update on his squad ahead of this Saturday's meeting with Huddersfield Town at Carrow Road (KO 3pm).

With the exception of Josh Sargent, he was able to field a full squad in training this week ahead of the Terriers arrival at Carrow Road.

"Dimi is in training since the beginning of the week, no problems. Today, we had everyone on the pitch except Josh. He'll be back in training on Monday. A good day, a lot of players outside on the grass," Wagner said.

"Jon Rowe had some illness earlier in the week but he's back too. Lungi (Jacob Sørensen) needs a few weeks of proper training, and some games with the Under-21s, the last game he had was in July. Unfortunately in the next nine days, we won't have a lot of training.

"For Grant (Hanley), West Brom or the latest Millwall, he's in my plans. I'm targeting the FA Cup for his first start. Gibbo (Ben Gibson) welcomed a daughter last week, she was early but luckily everyone is healthy."

The head coach also discussed the decision to play several senior players in last week's PL2 fixture against Manchester City.

Norwich ran out 6-0 winners at the Joie Stadium in a convincing performance but Wagner says it was more about putting minutes into players ahead of the busy period ahead.

"We made the decision because most people will train in smaller-sided games and that was the only chance to give them a big-sided game. With so many of them, it gave a chance to play to our pattern and the freedom to give them 90 minutes.

"You always feel more secure as a manager if you know someone has played only a week ago. We have a busy period in front of us where the squad will be needed.

"We need to go into a very intense period on a high, with a win. Their results are always tight, they've only lost once in the last six games. With the home support, a win could accelerate everything for us."

He also spoke about Kenny McLean who reached the milestone of 200 games for Norwich City in the recent 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.

The head coach lauded his presence and also his quality within the club.

"You can see how highly I rate him. He's a top professional, sets the standards in the dressing rooms. He likes to win football matches and it's great to have a character like him. He is a real team player.

"He has played against a physical side, he's played against the side that has scored the most goals in the division, and a side that likes to sit deep. There's going to be proper competition in that position and he's one player who can play there. It's lucky for us that he can be so good in different positions."