Team news | Gibbs out with hamstring injury

Head coach Liam Manning has provided some squad updates as Norwich City prepare to travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday evening.

Head coach Liam Manning has provided some squad updates as Norwich City prepare to travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday evening.

The headline story is confirmation that Liam Gibbs has picked up a hamstring injury and will be out for three to four weeks.

Reflecting on last weekend's loss against Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship, the head coach reiterated the frustration he felt after the fixture on Saturday.

"It's the same as I felt after the game, I watched it back again at the weekend and it increased frustration even more, especially watching the first half.

"It's this similar feeling too many times, so it was a tough one to take, that's for sure.

"I'll be the first person to take responsibility and where the lads are at, they don't deal well enough with (half-time changes from opposition).

"It's then about how you cope; I always look at myself first, we try to help the lads and predict exactly what Hull would do and then they have to deal with it."

Manning praised his side's defence in the first half of Saturday's tie, Shane Duffy and Ruairi McConville picking up their first league starts for the 2025/26 season.

"It was a very good first half, out of possession we were really good, I wouldn't change anything, apart from scoring.

"When you look at the second half, the really early goal changes emotion within the group.

"Even after that we still had loads of the ball but weren't brave enough to create anything. The second goal just absolutely kills us."

On summer signing Jeffrey Schlupp, Manning said: "I had a really good chat with him yesterday, he admits he's not hit the level he expects from himself.

"He was outstanding in the first half, when he hits the bar it was a similar feeling to when Ante (Crnac) hit the post at Derby.

"That's why we brought him in, we're in desperate need of someone with that experience and capability."

Manning also provided an update on a variety of other players who had been out of action in recent weeks.

"Jack Stacey is still out with concussion, you won't see him this side of the international break.

"(His return) is all on symptoms and goes through FA protocol, so as long as he keeps ticking those off, he'll be back when he's fit. You won't see him this side of the international break.

"It will still be a while before Lucien Mahovo returns.

"Elliot Myles trained this week and looked sharp but he is not available tomorrow.

"He needs a couple of weeks of full training before he is in contention.

"Mathias Kvistgaarden is probably a little ahead of Amankwah Forson, he's had a bit more training and match exposure, but both are in contention for being in the squad tomorrow and the weekend."

After being left out of the squad for Saturday's tie, Manning confirmed that Gibbs had sustained a minor hamstring injury.

"It will be three or four weeks, it's not a huge one but it's frustrating.

"There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes with their training plans but unfortunately when you've had a history, you're more likely to pick up future ones.

"When you look at his last 18 months to two years, he's actually been in a good spot lately. I'm disappointed for him and us."

The Canaries travel to Hillsborough tomorrow evening to face Sheffield Wednesday, who sit 13 points behind Norwich City following their 12-point deduction.

"With the situation they're in with the fans back in, it brings a different energy and atmosphere.

"They've had a tough time but if you look historically at what it's done to them, it clearly brings people together and we can learn from that.

"We want to go and spoil their party, they'll have a boost and we have to wreck it and be horrible to play against.

"That resilience, togetherness and spirit; we can learn from it.

"We need people to drag each other through, that's what being a good team is. When you're in a challenging period, it's about how we stick together."