Paddy Davitt Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has labelled the loss of suspended on loan Celtic warrior John Kennedy a 'body blow' for Sunday's Championship derby against Ipswich at Carrow Road.

Paddy Davitt

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has labelled the loss of suspended on loan Celtic warrior John Kennedy a 'body blow' for Sunday's Championship derby against Ipswich at Carrow Road.

The 25-year-old serves a one-match ban for his professional foul on Sheffield Wednesday striker Leon Clarke in last weekend's 3-2 defeat.

Roeder confirmed both Elliott Omozusi (hamstring) and Adam Drury (hamstring) are back in full training after missing last weekend's Hillsborough reverse but is poised to pair one of his fit-again defenders alongside Gary Doherty in a makeshift central defence with Sammy Clingan expected to retain his normal midfield berth.

"I think Sammy is too valuable to us in central midfield, but if he has to slide back there then we know he can," said Roeder. "Injury-wise we are all okay apart from the longer term ones and those suspended. It was a body blow for John and for us that he got himself sent off last week, but that gives someone else an opportunity who wouldn't otherwise have had an opportunity as far as I'm concerned. I never make excuses for injuries or suspensions. Other people have injuries and suspensions - we just have to make sure whoever comes in plays the game of his life."

Roeder admitted Kennedy's derby experience north of the border would have been invaluable, but he has no interest in launching a red card appeal.

"I didn't come close to appealing," he said. "I didn't think it was worth it. I think the striker milked it for all it was worth but am I complaining about that? No, not really. If my striker had milked it for all it was worth I wouldn't be telling him off. When you look at some of the continental players they are falling all over the place.

"I would have been delighted if John was playing this type of game. It would bring the best out of John. He's got experience of Celtic and Rangers, which is not a bad little derby either with plenty of passion. I think there are plenty of Rangers strikers who would bear that out with their bumps and bruises."

Roeder senses his men are in the sort of mood to fight fire with fire, saying: "The players will be up for it. They need a calm, cool head so they can concentrate and see what is happening around them and then effectively deal with it and go and play their football. I don't want us to be all uptight and tense because if you are you're not going to play your best football."