Norwich City are set to take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, aiming to revitalise their Championship campaign after a challenging week filled with emotional upheaval and controversy. Under the management of Liam Manning, the Canaries have secured just one victory from their opening three matches, placing considerable pressure on the squad to turn their fortunes around.
The recent transfer of Marcelino Nunez to arch-rivals Ipswich Town has dominated conversations among Norwich supporters, leaving many in disbelief. In response to this unexpected departure, Norwich have bolstered their midfield options with the signing of Danish player Pelle Mattsson, who is expected to be available for selection today, pending the timely processing of his transfer paperwork before Friday's deadline.
Norwich will be without right-back Jack Stacey, who is recovering from a concussion sustained during their recent defeat to Middlesbrough. Kellen Fisher is likely to step into the right wing-back role in his absence. Additionally, Amankwah Forson faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to ongoing injury issues, while youngster Lucien Mahovo is also working through rehabilitation from a quadriceps injury. Gabe Forsyth and Emmanuel Adegboyega remain unavailable for selection, further complicating Manning's options.
Adding to the uncertainty, senior players Anis Ben Slimane and Shane Duffy have been excluded from the squad as Norwich considers potential transfers ahead of the impending deadline on September 1. This situation creates an element of unpredictability within the team dynamics.
Blackburn Rovers find themselves in a similar position, having recorded one win and two losses in their opening three matches. However, they enter this fixture buoyed by a commanding 3-0 victory over Hull City. Former Norwich academy player Todd Cantwell is expected to lead the Rovers as captain, while new signing Ryoya Morishita may make his debut after joining from Legia Warsaw.
Historically, Norwich have enjoyed success at Ewood Park, remaining unbeaten in their last seven visits and securing 12 victories in their last 14 encounters with Blackburn. The Rovers will be eager to break this trend and secure a much-needed win.
Manning's squad faces the daunting prospect of losing three out of their first four league matches for the first time in the second tier since the 2000/01 season, intensifying the urgency surrounding today’s match.
Supporters are hoping for a sign of progress from Manning as the Canaries strive to dispel the negativity that has surrounded the club following a lacklustre start to the season. The atmosphere at Ewood Park is expected to be electric, with both sets of supporters acutely aware of the stakes.
Join Connor Southwell for live updates from Ewood Park, where Norwich City will be keen to reclaim their pride and build momentum ahead of the international break.