Norwich City manager Philippe Clement has confirmed that new signing Ali Ahmed and recovering winger Papa Amadou Diallo will not feature in the upcoming FA Cup third-round match against Walsall. Read more about Shulberg Departs as Norwich Academy Restructures.
Ahmed, who recently joined from Vancouver Whitecaps, is now eligible for selection. However, having been inactive for a month since his last competitive appearance in Major League Soccer, Clement is cautious about introducing the 21-year-old into a high-intensity match situation. While Ahmed has kept himself fit through individual training, the manager emphasised the need for a careful approach.
“Ali played his last game in the first week of December, so he had four weeks’ break,” Clement explained during a press briefing at the club's training facility on Saturday. “Okay, he stayed active himself, because he’s a good professional, but it’s like at the end of the season when you have four weeks’ break. You start to lose something and need to begin pre-season again.
“You don’t start after three days to put them in a game, and for sure, not in a game with the intensity we expect from Walsall. He will not be in the selection yet, but I expect him to be in the selection in the next weeks if he shows in training what we expect from him.” Read more about Chrisene Targets Regular Spot After Injury Setbacks.
In contrast, Diallo is also under careful consideration as he returns to training following a quad injury. Clement stated that managing his comeback properly is crucial to avoid any risk of re-injury.
“It’s not a similar story, but a logical one,” he said. “If someone’s been out that long, then after three training sessions, you don’t put them in a game because you risk too much for a re-injury. So it’s not the case yet.”
Clement expressed optimism regarding both players’ future contributions, remarking, “I’ve liked already the things that I have seen. They are two really interesting types who can add something to the team, and I will be very happy when we can get them top fit and running around all the time with the team and getting playing minutes.”
The manager also confirmed that captain Kenny McLean will miss the match due to ongoing fitness issues. McLean has been dealing with a hip problem after undergoing ankle surgery earlier in the season.
On a more positive note, striker Josh Sargent is fit to play after having missed several recent training sessions, which were recorded for the club's media channels. “It was a week where we had to individualise, like we always do, but a little bit more,” Clement noted. “So that was the unlucky day for him and Kenny that they were not in that training session involved. So no big worries about it.”
Clement added, “With Kenny, we have to watch out. Sarge is good, but with Kenny, we have to be cautious. No decision has been made yet if he will be in the selection, but for sure, he will be available next week. It’s just a small issue, but we cannot do anything stupid.”
In a light-hearted moment, Clement reflected on the challenges of discussing player injuries publicly, recalling a past incident where mentioning a player's condition led to unexpected consequences. “I’m not going to speak about injuries because last time I did, the first action I saw from an opponent was to step on that foot,” he joked. “I’ve learnt my lesson not to talk too much about where people feel pain.”
As Norwich City prepares for their FA Cup encounter with Walsall, the focus remains on ensuring that key players are fit and ready to make an impact. Read more about Chukwu Set for Norwich Move as Youth Programme Revamped.