Daniel Farke insists opportunity knocks at Bristol City on Saturday with a spot up for grabs in Norwich City’s defence.

The Canaries headed west minus a recognised left back for a televised lunchtime kick-off.

Xavi Quintilla has joined Sam Byram on the sick list, after a hip issue ruled him out minutes before the midweek 1-1 Championship draw at Brentford.

Young understudy Sam McCallum was Coventry City’s match-winner on Friday night in a 3-2 win over previously unbeaten Reading, after re-joining the Sky Blues on a season-long loan, while Jamal Lewis departed for Newcastle in the summer.

All that leaves Farke with a selection poser, after Jacob Sorensen was throw in at the deep end against the Bees.

“It is always easier when you can bring in a specialist than perhaps a player who is not playing in their best position. But it is not a problem if you do what Jacob did,” said Farke, who also talked up the versatility of Bali Mumba and Max Aarons at his pre-match press call. “With short notice, for his first game, I was pretty pleased with him.

“Of course he is an option again because we can be pretty flexible and switch to a three-man formation like we did at the end of that game.

“Bali Mumba is a natural full back, right footed, and that is where he played in pre-season but he is looking quite sharp and is an option.

“Max Aarons has played on the left before, Lukas Rupp has also featured in the right back position. There are some options. Jacob was the right choice for the last game.”

Farke revealed after a late Brentford comeback his decision to field Sorensen was not universally shared by his staff.

“It was a risky solution. This is not football on Fifa,” he said. “My coaches were right to point out it was the first time he had made the squad, he had not played for weeks and this was not his natural position. To come in at short notice is a big call.

“Maybe there was more reliable solutions but I had a gut feeling it was important not to change too much for that game. He is not a natural full back who goes up the line and gets crosses in but he was solid in his defensive work and I like his calmness on the ball.

“Plus we have seen many examples of a right sided player on the left. Sam Byram has shown this for our club, even in Germany Philipp Lahm had his best games on the left because he could cut inside.

“If you are smart and technically good then you can do it. It is not so much credit to me. Credit to Jacob.”