As Norwich City gear up for their Championship clash against Preston North End this weekend, they face a side rejuvenated by the return of key players from injury. Currently enjoying a strong season, Preston are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to six matches in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter at Deepdale. Read more about Norwich Target Yang as January Window Approaches.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom has guided Preston to an impressive third place in the league, and the timing of these player returns could not be better, especially with the demanding festive schedule looming. This boost will be crucial as they aim to maintain their momentum.
Heckingbottom expressed his excitement about the involvement of Northern Irish international midfielder Ali McCann, who has recently returned to training. McCann participated in a closed-door friendly on Wednesday, alongside teammates eager to regain their competitive edge. “We had a little behind closed doors game, which was good for the boys who needed it,” remarked Heckingbottom. “Everyone was then back and a lot of match prep from then onwards.”
Joining McCann in returning to the squad are Will Keane, Brad Potts, Andy Vukcevic, and Dai Cornell, all of whom featured in the friendly match. Heckingbottom noted, “Noah Mawene played the full 90 because, although he’s been training with us a lot and been in the squad, he’s missed a lot of football, so yeah, it was good.”
In contrast, Norwich's Jamal Lewis, a product of their academy, has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during last month's thrilling 3-2 victory against Sheffield Wednesday. However, Preston's assistant Stuart McCall confirmed that Lewis is now "back on the grass," which could be a positive sign for Norwich as they look to bolster their squad depth.
While Keane and Potts are available for selection, both have yet to feature this season due to the impressive form of their teammates. Heckingbottom acknowledged the challenges of reintegrating players post-injury, stating, “Any time is a good time [to welcome players back] when you’ve been missing what we’ve been missing. But I think, you look at Keano and Pottsy so far – Pol (Valentin) and Jordan (Thompson) less so when they came back, because we were able to throw them straight in and give them 10, 20, 30 minutes at a time until we could start them – it’s been difficult to give Pottsy and Keano the minutes.”
He added, “But after the lay-offs they’ve had, it’s been more important that they just get the confidence back in the body and the training. So it was great to give them minutes the other day in the [behind closed doors] game.” Read more about McLean Hails Medical Team After Swift Recovery.
As Norwich prepare for this potentially pivotal match, Preston North End will be keen to leverage their returning players and maintain their strong performance, aiming to secure three vital points at home. Read more about Norwich City Mourns Passing of Age Hareide at 72.