Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke has delivered a worrying injury update following the club’s 3-2 Championship win over Stoke City last night.
Prior to yesterday’s game, the Canaries were without Sam Byram, Kieran Dowell, Onel Hernandez, Bali Mumba and Adam Idah with long-term injuries while Todd Cantwell, Jordan Hugill and Kenny McLean were ruled out for a few weeks.
Their injury troubles have now worsened with goalkeeper Tim Krul out with a muscle injury while top-scorer Teemu Pukki is doubtful for the weekend after being brought off with a hamstring concern last night.
Meanwhile, Emiliano Buendia will miss Coventry City’s visit to Carrow Road after getting sent off while Marco Stiepermann could also be ruled out as he may have to follow the concussion protocols after a clash of heads with Danny Batth.
Speaking after Wednesday’s hard-fought win, he told: “Tim Krul has a strain in his muscle. It looks right now like he’ll be out for a few weeks and that means in this busy schedule, he’ll miss five or six games.
“Marco Stiepermann went to the ground as well, there’s the danger of concussion there. We have to assess him. I had to substitute Teemu Pukki with hamstring problems and that could also be a strain.”
The Canaries have built up momentum over the past couple of months and they have remained unbeaten over the past nine league games with seven victories and two draws.
That has propelled them to the top of the league standings, but they now have a tough period to cope with as many as five players injured right after the international break.
The club are scheduled to host 21st-placed Coventry City on Saturday afternoon and Farke will be hoping that Pukki passes a late fitness test ahead of the game.
Pukki started the season in a relatively slow fashion with one goal from six outings, but he has picked up form with six goals from his next seven Championship appearances.
No one other than the Finland international has scored more than two goals for the Canaries this term and the 30-year-old remains a hugely influential figure in their promotion bid at the first time of asking.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
