Norwich boss Chris Hughton admitted Grant Holt is a major injury doubt for Saturday's Premier League trip to West Brom. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images Ltd.
Norwich City boss Chris Hughton confirms Grant Holt is a major West Brom injury doubt
Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2012
4:00 PM
Chris Hughton will give captain Grant Holt every chance to try and prove his fitness for the weekend Premier League trip to West Brom.
Holt has yet to train after suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of City’s 2-1 Premier League win against Wigan last time out that extended the club’s record 10-match unbeaten run in the modern era. Hughton however, speaking at Colney on Thursday afternoon, refused to rule Holt out of his plans to spearhead Norwich’s attack at the Hawthorns.
“The good news is it is certainly not anywhere near as bad as either it could be or as we feared it might be,” he said. “Grant is touch and go I would have to say for the weekend. If he did miss West Brom we would certainly hope he is fit enough for the rest of the Christmas period.”
Defender Ryan Bennett is poised to re-join training on Friday after his recent knee problem. Tottenham loanee Harry Kane stepped up his fitness return following foot surgery with a goalscoring 60-minute outing for the development side in midweek and Hughton revealed he has some big decisions to make over the coming days.
“Harry is certainly there or thereabouts,” he said. “The decision we have to make on Harry is the fact he has been out for such a long time. He is just off the back of a period of training and he played 60 minutes in the development game in midweek. That is the decision we have to make and the same with Ryan.
“Harry has done a fair bit of work but he will be lacking in some areas, which is normal, but the good news is the injury is fine. It is good to have him back. If he was involved (at WBA) it would be based on the fact he has done enough. We don’t want him to break down.”
Hughton confirmed John Ruddy (thigh) and Andrew Surman (knee) are definitely unavailable at the start of a potentially gruelling festive period with home games against Chelsea and Manchester City followed by a New Year trip to West Ham.
“It has to be very much one game at a time,” he said. “Once you get through that first game in the sequence of four you see how you have come through that in terms of fatigue or injury or result and the next squad will generally be based on what you have seen. It is the same for everybody. It is not like we are playing a series of games and the rest are not.
“We have a real competitive squad at the moment. We are fairly light on injuries. The only injuries are John and Andrew, apart from Grant. This is a time when everybody wants to be involved, but we have two tough away games and two games at home that do not get any tougher.”
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17 comments
If Holt is out, then the shape should stay the same. I guess that makes Moro the man for the job. The 4-2-3-1 has brought the defensive resolve that has keyed most of the good play recently. The goal should be a clean sheet, first and foremost, Saturday. Easier said than done, I know - but we have a fully fit back 6, now. If we score, and still concede one, then that will be just peachy. I predict a 0-0 draw.
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NorthCarolinaCanary
Friday, December 21, 2012
I agree with the most recent correspondents. Moro is not lazy, he is not a bad player and fans getting on his back during games doesn`t help his confidence. Sure, he`s no Holty but there IS only one Grant Holt! Whatever happens, the Horse`s long-term fitness must not be risked. Oops! I think I just sort of repeated what Preston Canary\Swiss said! CanaryWest will start believing we are the same person....... ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Friday, December 21, 2012
I really don't want us to risk The Horse on Saturday, he needs to be fit in the long term and he isn't getting any younger. It's time for Morison to step up to the plate and do it, that is if we stay with the same formation.
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Swiss Canary
Friday, December 21, 2012
Here's a prediction. Holt will be left out, Moro in with Wes. Kane and Jackson on the bench.
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jharding
Friday, December 21, 2012
Morrison has the ability to do a good job, and I don't think his attitude work rate is as bad as some make out. He is just a different type of front man to Holt. For one thing, he has a bit more pace than the horse. I would not be surprised to see him start and Hoots to keep the same formation. I would also not be surprised to see him score.
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Preston Canary
Friday, December 21, 2012
Morrison has the ability to do a good job, and I don't think his attitude work rate is as bad as some make out. He is just a different type of front man to Holt. For one thing, he has a bit more pace than the horse. I would not be surprised to see him start and Hoots to keep the same formation. I would also not be surprised to see him score.
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Preston Canary
Friday, December 21, 2012
Master of disguise, Hoots is becoming. Took injured Tettey to a recent away game so the opposition didn`t know he would be missing? If Holt is properly fit, he`ll play but Hoots wouldn`t take risks. We have to adapt to being without key players, everybody has to. Raspberry has a valid point - Moro started last season well & was preferred to Holt for a while. Can he step up? 9 Prem goals last season was not bad.......but can he do the holding\leading thing as well as Holty? Probably not, but you can only hope. IHWT.
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Mad Brewer
Friday, December 21, 2012
It's what Grant does best - touch the defender and then go and get a goal! I'm OK with Morro starting. Let's be honest, the goals are coming from all over so so long as Pilkington, Snodgrass and our full strength defence is playing, there will be goals for NCFC - and it would be great to se Morro get one as well...
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richard
Friday, December 21, 2012
"Grant is touch and go" ...Chris Hughton said coyly...
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Steady On
Friday, December 21, 2012
for christ sake dont put morison in, i would rather see someone with zest like little Jackson
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Colby Army!
Friday, December 21, 2012
As much as I would like to see Holt on the pitch against WBA, I would prefer he miss that one to be sure he is fit for the Chelsea and Man City games, rather than run risk of compounding an injury that he may not be 100% recovered from. As for Morison and Jackson, if either play I feel CH will need to change the shape as neither will provide the hole making ability that Holt has displayed of late. Should make for an interesting evening tomorrow. OTBC
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Singapore Canary
Friday, December 21, 2012
Perfect opportunity for Moro and Jacko to step up to the plate and stake a claim. I can see them being hungry and seizing their opportunity - go for it and beat WBA away ! OTBC
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Dubai Canary
Thursday, December 20, 2012
I read it as Saturday will come too soon for both Holt and Kane. Options are therefore fairly limited and will see Morison start up front on his own. What happens from then on who knows. With hamstring injuries the fatal mistake is coming back too soon. Been there done that a couple of times. I would be very surprised if we see Holt Saturday. Would love to see Morison deliver - there was a spell last season where he was THE man - check the stats. Am not and never have been convinced either by Jackson. Both he and Moro have some talent but for me not enough for this league. We need an option in the Jan window.
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Barry Rasberry
Thursday, December 20, 2012
I have lost faith in Morison but yes i think he will start, i would think he will be subbed for Kane on 70ish mins but if we are chasing the game i would like us to change it up and get Jacko on as well maybe take of BJ and go 4-3-1-2 leave Wes free to roam to thread a ball through or the wingers fire in some crosses.
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MBA Marine
Thursday, December 20, 2012
STEVE MORISON stand up and be counted.
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Lobbo
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Reads like a bit of bluff from the Hoots here. Nearly a faux pas in forgetting Holt from the summary injury list? Or he's getting a little forgetful in his old age? Hmmm......
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shefcanary
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Hope they don't call the vet in, we don't want them shooting the horse.
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cutty
Thursday, December 20, 2012