Norwich City

Phil Daley
Radio Norfolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, the Canaries take on Stoke City at Carrow Road in the Championship (15:00 GMT). They're looking for their first win in four games, following draws with Derby and Hull and defeat by Preston.

Ahead of the match, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to the media and here are some of the key points from his press conference:

• Midfielder Marcelino Nunez is fit to play this weekend after missing the last two games.

• Emi Marcondes and Kenny McLean remain sidelined.

• Matej Jurasek will miss the game with a thigh problem.

• Callum Doyle is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season at Hull.

• On Stoke, Thorup says: "They will be another team that are difficult to break down, they are high pressing and will make our life difficult.

• "There are no easy games in this league and we have to be at our maximum to get a good result."

You can listen to full live commentary of Norwich City v Stoke with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB. Coverage begins at 14:00 GMT on Saturday.

Norwich City will look to keep their play-off hopes alive when they welcome Stoke City to Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The Canaries are 12th, four points off the top six, and without a win in their past three games (D2 L1).

The Potters have won two of their past three and are seven points above the bottom three in 19th as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Stoke City (W5 D3), scoring 3+ goals in four of those matches.

• Stoke City have lost each of their past three away league games against Norwich City, last enduring a longer losing run against the Canaries between 1960 and 1974 (five games).

• Norwich City lost their previous home Championship match against Preston North End but haven't lost consecutively at Carrow Road since losing to Leeds, Middlesbrough and Blackburn in October and November last season.

• Stoke City have won two of their past three Championship matches (L1), more than they'd managed in their previous 15 games combined (W1 D8 L6).

• Norwich City forward Josh Sargent has had a hand in 14 goals in his past 16 Championship starts (9 goals, 5 assists), scoring five in his past five for the Canaries.

Norwich City midfielder Anis Ben Slimane says he has previously turned down international duty due to prioritising fitness for his club.

The Tunisia international has struggled with injury for both the Canaries and previous club Sheffield United, last featuring for Tunisia in January 2024.

But he is eager to help his country reach the World Cup during their upcoming qualifiers in March, having already featured in the competition in 2022.

"I have been selected for other international camps but unfortunately, with the injuries, I haven't felt like it was the right moment to be with the national team when I've not been 100% for the club. I prefer to be 100% fit for the club.

"I tried it once and I really want to do it again, so yeah hopefully we will be back there."

Slimane made his loan move to Norwich a permanent one in January, with the city feeling "like home" to the Copenhagen-born Canary.

Though just his second club in English football, there was a familiar face to help him transition to life in Norfolk.

Slimane has history with Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, having worked together early in their respective careers for Danish side Akademisk Boldklub's youth team.

"He has always been that serious and really engaged, and also a very clever manager tactically. I could feel that from when I worked with him very young.

"He's the same guy with the same values but grew with the job as well."

You can listen to the full episode and more on The Scrimmage Podcast.

"It is a concern that the more time you spend out of the top division, the trickier it gets to recruit and retain your top talent."

Rob Butler and Jack Reeve discuss the long-term plan at Norwich City under boss Johannes Hoff Thorup and whether it'll be hindered by the potential loss of top players such as Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent.

The two attacking talents have been standouts for the Canaries this season, with Sainz the Championship's leading goalscorer despite serving a six-match ban, and could attract the eyes of teams with much meatier budgets come the summer.

Hoff Thorup has also been able to bring in promising talent, including Manchester City loanee Jacob Wright who came close to scoring an equaliser before Sargent secured the point at Hull City on Saturday.

"You can see it recently with Jacob Wright coming from Man City. He was very clear that he had seen some games with him and his family and his agents to find the right fit for him," Hoff Thorup told The Scrimmage podcast.

"When you play in a certain way - and especially with us in a technical way, a way where we try to score a lot of goals and create chances - it attracts players."

Can the Danish head coach build a team that could make the Premier League?

You can listen to the full episode and more on The Scrimmage Podcast.

"For Norwich to get their only goal of the game while everyone was watching the squirrel - there's always something with Norwich, it's never straightforward."

Chris Goreham and Rob Butler reflect on Norwich City's draw with relegation battlers Hull City after a lacklustre start and discuss a perfect starting XI starring the Canaries' new favourite rodents.

This episode includes the full post-match interview with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup - and yes, Cyrille the Squirrel gets a shout-out.

You can listen to the full post-match reaction and more on The Scrimmage podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

There are probably moments when football managers up and down the land would love to slip an extra player on to the pitch and hope the referee doesn't notice.

Well, Norwich benefitted from the decoy run of a furry friend to help them collect a point from Saturday's trip to Hull.

With the Canaries trailing early in the second half, new 'star' signing Cyrille the Squirrel - as dubbed by BBC Radio Norfolk - appeared on the field and showed a neat turn of pace down the right wing, just a few yards from Borja Sainz.

Sainz could have slipped in Cyrille, but instead laid the ball off to Kellen Fisher, whose cross was headed in by Josh Sargent.

"I don't think I've ever seen something like that," Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup said after the game.

"I have squirrels in my garden over here. They're everywhere. Hopefully he's not one of mine because otherwise we'll have to find him and take him back home."

The station 'interviewed' Cyrille after the game - but talk of a new contract at Carrow Road is understood to be nuts.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said his side's slow start cost them a win in their 1-1 draw away against struggling Hull City.

"With the bad start to the game, we still created enough situations in the second half that we can expect to score the winning goal," Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"From minute 15 to minute 90 I am pleased with the performance in many ways. We had good control.

"We had a good flow and a good rhythm and created a lot of situations and I am a little bit sad for the boys because we didn't get the second goal we deserved.

"It looked like we didn't get the pressing right in the first part of the game and we changed after they scored and started to create.

"It is young players with three players who are 21 or younger and a young midfield too. They are eager and I am delighted with them and praise to them for the way they reacted."

The latest Scrimmage Daily features Chris Goreham and Rob Butler discussing Canary transfer deals which didn't come off.

Did you know Frank Lampard (senior) almost signed for City?

What about when then manager David Stringer missed a game to go and scout a player in Scotland? Does that ring any bells?

Click below to listen:

If you want to get in touch with Chris and Rob at The Scrimmage, you can email thescrimmage@bbc.co.uk.

There's plenty at stake as Hull City welcome Norwich to the MKM on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

After their midweek defeat at Burnley, their second straight, the Tigers remain in the Championship relegation zone below Derby by virtue of their inferior goal difference.

The Canaries have fallen to 11th, four points adrift of the play-off places, after drawing at home to the Rams on Saturday and going down 1-0 to Preston at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.

• Hull City have lost each of their past four league games against Norwich City, conceding 11 goals in that time.

• Norwich are looking to beat Hull on successive Football League trips for the first time since December 1968.

• Hull are yet to win a home league game in 2025 (D1 L3), which is their longest winless start at home in a year since 2020 (7 games).

• Norwich are aiming to win successive away league games for the first time since January 2023 after beating Watford 1-0 at the start of the month at Vicarage Road.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent has two goals in his last four league games against Hull, netting the second goal in their 4-0 win in the reverse fixture in October.

Phil Daley
Radio Norfolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, the Canaries travel to Hull in the Championship (15:00 GMT) after disappointing performances against Derby County and Preston North End.

Ahead of the game, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to the media and here are some of the key points from his press conference:

• Captain Kenny McLean remains a doubt after pulling out of the starting line-up on Tuesday night with an illness. He still hasn't recovered.

• Emi Marcondes, who missed the defeat to Preston, remains sidelined with hip pain.

• Marcelino Nunez will miss Hull. He had a scan on his ankle after a heavy challenge on Tuesday night. "The scan was ok and it isn't broken, but it doesn't look good," said Thorup.

• "We need to look at what we didn't get right on Tuesday night," added the head coach in referencing the defeat to Preston.

• Thorup says it's hard to form an opinion on Hull due to some great results against the likes of Leeds and Sheffield United, but also some defeats against lesser sides. "They (Hull) are front footed. We need to be calm and have good solid build-up play, our pressing game needs to be good to."

• Thorup says he's frustrated because he thinks the team are progressing quicker than he expected at the start of the season, but injuries are hampering their attempts to break into the top six.

You can listen to full live commentary of Hull V Norwich City with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB. Coverage begins at 14:00 GMT on Saturday.

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk, Norwich City commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Successive home games against Derby County and Preston North End were supposed to be Norwich City's big opportunity to gatecrash the top six. It ended up being a typical Championship reality check.

With Josh Sargent fit and firing, Borja Sainz returning from a six-game ban, Marcelino Nunez recovered from injury and Czech winger Matej Jurasek finally cleared to make his debut, the stars appeared to be aligning for boss Johannes Hoff Thorup.

However, the resolute defences of Derby and Preston stifled the usually prolific Canaries.

Norwich are the only other team in the Championship aside from leaders Leeds United to have registered 50 league goals this season. You wouldn't have thought so on the evidence of these shot-shy displays.

A late penalty allowed Derby to clinch a point in a 1-1 draw. Preston scored early and that proved enough to take the win.

One point from a possible six marks a massive missed opportunity for City.

Thorup was philosophical in defeat on Tuesday night. It's only recently that he's openly entertained a top-six finish as being within reach in his first season in English football. He's often pointed to the steep learning curve that his squad is on.

One of his tasks was to reduce the average age of the team. The Norwich starting line-up against Preston featured just two players over the age of 24.

At their entertaining best, Norwich look capable of nicking one of the two remaining play-off spots that are realistically up for grabs. These last two matches have shown that cracking some Canary consistency remains Thorup's biggest challenge

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup explained skipper Kenny McLean's late withdrawal from his team as they lost 1-0 at home to Preston North End.

McLean was initially named in the starting XI and Carrow Road but had to be withdrawn shortly before kick-off after suffering breathing problems.

The Dane told BBC Radio Norfolk: "Kenny had to go out which is never ideal for us because he is so important, for the way we play and the group's experience. He has been ill but was OK yesterday, but felt in the warm-up he couldn't really breathe."

On his team's performance, he said: "My most important role is to make sure that they (the players) still know there is big belief in them because they are doing well. There will be ups and downs.

"We didn't really find the rhythm and flow. We know they are a physical team, and their game plan is so much about duels and tackles, and a hard fight to kill the flow in the game and we prepared for that, but it's hard.

"With some new faces in there they have to catch up with the rhythm and flow, and with Borja (Sainz) back after six games he also has to catch up."

Image source, Getty Images

As Norwich City put the finishing touches to preparations for Tuesday's Championship fixture at home to Preston, the big question for head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup is whether to hand an instant recall to forward, and top scorer, Borja Sainz.

No-one has scored more goals in the Championship than the Spaniard's 15 and the urge to bring him straight back into the side after the completion of his six-week ban for spitting must be irresistible.

Thorup described Sainz as "fit and energised" after his enforced break and will surely want to get him back in the thick of the action as the Canaries try to maintain their improving push for the play-offs.

Whether Sainz plays and who might make way for him is just one of the topics up for debate on the latest edition of The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Radio Norfolk.

Chris Reeve and Rob Butler discuss all the latest Canaries news and, along with talking to Thorup, the show also features a chat with the man who's been shouldering the burden up front in the absence of Sainz - Josh Sargent.

The USA striker, who has scored four goals in his past three games and 23 in partnership with 15-goal Sainz so far, says it will be "really good" to see Sainz back in the fold.

Former City midfielder Gabriel Sara, now at Galatasaray in Turkey, also drops in for a word.

You can listen to the latest episode of The Scrimmage here.

Rob Butler
BBC Radio Norfolk Canary Call presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said he was disappointed with Saturday's 1-1 draw against Derby County at Carrow Road.

On Tuesday, the Canaries host Preston North End in The Championship (20:00 GMT).

Thorup has been speaking to the media ahead of that game, here are some of the key points:

• Thorup said midfielder Emi Marcondes has a hip injury, so he will be out for one or two weeks.

• Midfielder Amankwah Forson is still out with a knee injury. Thorup is hopeful it will improve in "a couple of weeks time".

• On Borja Sainz's return from a six match suspension: "He is looking forward to it. We have told him not spit any more!"

• Thorup said the coaching staff have worked with Sainz on how to avoid unnecessary confrontations on the pitch: "We have spoken to him about tools to handle the situation."

• The head coach continued: "It's a completely new world for him (being the top scorer in the division). He is taking on information and really trying to deal with it."

• Thorup said Josh Sargent, Marcelino Nunez and Anis Ben Slimane will be managed carefully as they continue their return from injuries.

You can listen to full live commentary of Norwich City versus Preston North End with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB. Coverage begins at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Norwich City forward Josh Sargent has joked that strike partner Borja Sainz is "getting a bit nervous" about being caught in the race to be the club's top goalscorer this season.

Sargent scored in the 1-1 draw with Derby on Saturday to take his goal tally to eight for the season - seven behind Sainz, who leads the Championship's overall golden boot race with 15.

The 24-year-old USA international has netted four goals in five games since returning to the side after missing 14 games following groin surgery.

"I think he's getting a bit nervous now... " Sargent told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"No, it's a good competition. I keep telling him every time I score, 'I'm coming for you' - but it's all good fun.

"If he's scoring or I'm scoring, it doesn't matter as long as we're winning games."

Sainz has served a six-game suspension after admitting to spitting at Sunderland's Chris Mepham in December and is eligible to return to the squad for the clash with Preston on Tuesday night.

"He's been training with us and it's always nice playing with him," Sargent added.

"We have a good relationship so it will be good to have him back for sure."