In a surprising move, Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement handed Shane Duffy his first start of the season in the match against Birmingham City. The 33-year-old defender had seen limited action prior to Clement's appointment, making just two appearances. However, his leadership qualities during training earned him a place in the starting eleven for the encounter at St Andrew's.
Unfortunately for the Canaries, the match ended in a disappointing 4-1 defeat, with Duffy inadvertently involved in Jay Stansfield's final goal for Birmingham. Despite the heavy loss, Clement stood by his decision to start Duffy, emphasising the importance of his experience and vocal presence on the pitch. Read more about Clement Targets Revival as Norwich City Manager.
"For me, everybody starts with a white page," Clement stated in the post-match press conference. "I don't know them as people - I need to get to know them now. He's somebody with experience, who has a voice in the team for the coaching from behind. That's crucial now in this situation also, that we have coaching from behind and not everybody's defending one-on-one, but that the coaching comes from behind also." Read more about Clement Targets Revival as Canaries Face Birmingham.
Clement further elaborated that the lack of vocal communication from other players during training influenced his decision to include Duffy. "To be in the team you need [to bring] coaching," he added, highlighting the necessity for guiding voices on the field.
In another notable decision, Mathias Kvistgaarden, who netted Norwich’s only goal, was substituted after just 60 minutes. Clement justified this choice by stressing the importance of squad rotation and providing Emiliano Marcondes with an opportunity. "Emiliano also deserved a chance - he showed good things in training," he remarked. "It’s important to see everybody and also to make rotations in this kind of week to keep everybody fit."
Norwich also faced the absence of Matej Jurasek due to illness. However, Clement reassured supporters that Jurasek is recovering and is likely to be available for the upcoming match against Oxford at Carrow Road. "Matej was sick in the last couple of days, so he had a training session today instead of being with the selection," Clement explained. "He’s fit again. Yesterday was the first time that he trained again with the squad, but he missed the days before."
As Norwich City prepares for a demanding schedule in the coming weeks, Clement remains optimistic about expanding options within the squad. "The more options we have over the next couple of weeks, the better for the squad," he concluded, hinting at potential adjustments as the team looks to bounce back from this setback.