Norwich City are facing another injury concern following the early withdrawal of defender Jose Cordoba during Panama's narrow 1-0 victory over El Salvador. The 24-year-old left the pitch just 12 minutes into the match, clutching his right thigh, raising significant concerns for both the player and the club. Read more about Manning Confident in Mattsson's Impact at Norwich City.
Cordoba has made a notable impact since stepping in for Jakov Medic at the heart of the defence, starting the last two fixtures for the Canaries. His performances against West Brom and Ipswich highlighted his pace and composure, contributing to a more aggressive high press strategy that head coach Liam Manning has been keen to implement.
While the severity of Cordoba’s injury remains uncertain, Norwich do have some depth at centre-back. Medic, a regular starter prior to Cordoba's emergence, is available for selection, and Harry Darling has been a reliable figure in Manning's starting lineup. However, both Ruairi McConville and Shane Duffy have yet to feature in any Championship matches this season. Duffy, who has been recovering from a calf injury, did travel with the squad to Ipswich, which raises hopes for his imminent return.
This latest injury is not Cordoba's first setback; he missed six matches last season following his transfer from Levski Sofia in the summer of 2024. The match against El Salvador was particularly significant for him, marking his first international start since June after struggling for playing time in previous camps. His defensive contributions were vital until Jose Fajardo scored the winning goal in the 55th minute.
Manning has voiced his frustrations regarding the team's injury record, especially after confirming a long-term injury for Anis Ben Slimane last month. He acknowledged the need for improvements at the club’s Colney training base, stating, "We've had some real tough conversations recently about that… There were some tweaks made in the summer that haven't had the impact needed.”
He added, “We’ve definitely picked up too many [injuries], but again, I think it’s now time to action stuff. We can’t keep picking up injuries and having to manage that situation.” With the injury list for the Canaries continuing to grow, attention will now shift to the club's medical team to assess the extent of Cordoba’s injury and ensure the squad is prepared for upcoming fixtures.