Norwich's Chrisene to miss rest of season

Ben Chrisene's only Norwich goal came against Watford in September

Norwich City defender Ben Chrisene will miss the rest of the season because of an ankle injury.

The 21-year-old has made 28 appearances since arriving from Aston Villa last summer on a four-year contract.

He was substituted late in Saturday's draw with Blackburn, a game which also saw Lewis Dobbin limp off with what may be a season-ending thigh injury.

Winger Dobbin, 22, is on loan from Villa, scoring twice in 10 Championship games for the Canaries, but will remain at Carrow Road for treatment.

"We have to make sure we get a little bit of inspiration from his movements and his timings, he did a lot of good stuff for us," head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"He has shown some of the other players that will step into the exact same role how to do it in that position and I hope that they can learn.

"We want to keep him here because let's see if there is a chance he can get into the team for maybe the last two games of the season, you never know. And if there is a chance we can keep him in the building after the season, I think it would be good for us."

Dobbin posted on X: "Gutted, especially after such a frustrating season but that's football. Thanks for the messages of support, it means more than you know! Back soon."

On Chrisene's injury, Thorup said he was unhappy about some of the tackles he was on the receiving end of against Blackburn - and also an incident in which goalkeeper Angus Gunn appeared to be caught in the face by an arm after he had caught the ball.

"There were many incidents in that game that I simply don't like in football," the Dane said.

"It's a shame for him because he has now played the last minutes for him this season."

He added: "I'm close to saying I've given up to understand how this league works in terms of all this. There's nothing we can, just to get on with it. The last thing I want is that we pay too much attention to it all. That's the last thing we need.

"We just have to get out there and play and let the refs do their job."

Norwich are 11th in the table, four points outside the play-off places, ahead of Friday evening's home game against Oxford United.