Philippe Clement has made nine changes to the side that lost at Middlesbrough (Image: Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd)
Philippe Clement has made nine changes to the side that lost at Middlesbrough (Image: Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd)
Philippe Clement has made nine changes to the Canaries’ starting XI for tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Manchester City, with the Belgian following through on his promise to rotate his squad.
Kellen Fisher and Anis Ben Slimane are the only survivors from the side that suffered stoppage-time heartbreak against Boro on Teesside.
Daniel Grimshaw gets the nod between the posts against his former club, having progressed through the Citizens’ academy before embarking on his senior career. Darlin Yongwa, Harry Darling and Bruno Alves are the defensive selections, with a testing evening awaiting against the hosts’ wealth of attacking talent.
Sam Field returns to the starting XI in midfield alongside Jacob Wright, another player with Manchester City connections. Wright drops into the deeper role after catching the eye off the bench at Middlesbrough, where he operated further forward.
Ante Crnac and Papa Amadou Diallo provide the width either side of Slimane, with both continuing to build their minutes following spells on the sidelines. Mathias Kvistgaarden is tasked with leading the line for the Canaries.
Jose Cordoba, Kenny McLean, Andre Brooks and Jovon Makama are among those rested by Clement for the trip.
Elsewhere, Gabe Forsyth has taken another major step in his lengthy road back to competitive football. The midfielder completed 60 minutes and converted from the penalty spot as the Under-21s secured a 4-2 victory over Birmingham last Friday.
He has been sidelined for more than 18 months with a knee injury and will continue his rehabilitation with Olly Lee’s development side as he builds towards full match fitness.
Mirko Topic remains on the comeback trail after suffering an ACL injury last November. The midfielder is now back on the grass completing individual work, with his return to team training edging closer.
Lucien Mahovo is at a similar point in his recovery from an ankle problem, continuing to work away from the main group. Clement has revealed the full-back could return to team training as soon as the upcoming international break.
Ali Ahmed remains a longer-term absentee after his ACL injury, with the winger expected to miss the majority of the season.
Watch live reaction from our reporters at the Etihad to the team news.
Manchester City: Rulli (GK); O'Reilly, Reis, Khusanov, Lewis; Bouaddi, Kovacevic (C); Allan, Cherki, Ait Nouri; Samba. (SUBS): Donnarumma (GK, Anderson, Guehi, Ndiaye, Fernandez, Nunes, Semenyo, McAidoo, Braithwaite.
Norwich City: Grimshaw (GK); Fisher, Alves, Darling (C), Yongwa; Field, Wright; Crnac, Slimane, Diallo; Kvistgaarden. (SUBS): Kovacevic (GK), Stacey, McConville, Chrisene, Mattsson, Maghoma, Schwartau, Musaba, Toure.