Norwich City are currently facing a potential injury crisis following the hamstring injury sustained by Marcelino Nunez. The Chilean international was forced to leave the pitch during the second half of the club’s 4-0 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup third round. Nunez is scheduled to undergo scans at the club’s training facility in Colney on Sunday to determine the severity of his injury.
Compounding the situation is the absence of several central midfielders, including Anis Ben Slimane, Jacob Sorensen, Liam Gibbs, and Gabe Forsyth, all of whom are sidelined due to various injuries. Head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup has acknowledged the pressing need for reinforcements in midfield, commenting on the limited player availability: "It's not on that part of the pitch where we have too many players available, so potentially something we have to look at." He also highlighted the club’s financial constraints, stating, "we don't have unlimited resources to go out and buy players, so we have to come up with ideas and solutions, and hopefully some of the others will take a step in a good direction."
Thorup's concerns were evident as he described Nunez’s situation as "probably the worst story of the game," underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the player's condition. "We have to wait and see. We need to assess him, and we need to have a close look at what it is. We have to wait for the scans," he added. Notably, the injury affects the opposite hamstring from previous issues earlier in the season, which only heightens the concern.
In response to the squad's needs, Norwich City have made a move in the transfer market by securing a loan deal for Lewis Dobbin from Aston Villa. Thorup expressed a desire to further strengthen the squad, particularly in wide areas, amidst reports of a potential £7 million deal for Matej Jurasek from Slavia Prague. "I know we're looking, as I've been saying a couple of times, to strengthen the squad in areas like that, but it's an ongoing process," he explained.
The head coach has adopted a cautious approach regarding new signings, stating, "So I will always be a little bit careful to say too much, but I think it's fair to expect that we will try to strengthen the group with a player from the wide area."
As Norwich City navigate this challenging period, the club's management is actively assessing the evolving situation, balancing the urgency of addressing injuries with the realities of the transfer market. The developments surrounding Nunez's injury and potential signings will be closely monitored by fans and analysts alike as the transfer window progresses.