Hughes doubtful for Leeds

DAVID CUFFLEY City may be forced to make a late decision on midfielder Andy Hughes' fitness for Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship opener at Leeds. Hughes has missed two of the Canaries' last three pre-season matches with a groin strain, sitting out the game at Falkirk before playing the first hour of Craig Fleming's testimonial against Newcastle last Wednesday.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City may be forced to make a late decision on midfielder Andy Hughes' fitness for Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship opener at Leeds.

Hughes has missed two of the Canaries' last three pre-season matches with a groin strain, sitting out the game at Falkirk before playing the first hour of Craig Fleming's testimonial against Newcastle last Wednesday. He was then sidelined again for Saturday's 1-0 win over Northampton.

First team coach Martin Hunter said today: “We'll be looking at Andy again tomorrow. He's had a groin strain but we're still hopeful, but we'll know more when we've talked to the physios tomorrow.”

Striker Leon McKenzie has recovered after being sent home before the Northampton match, complaining of feeling unwell.

Defender Rossi Jarvis, who has a thigh strain, is still under treatment.

Meanwhile, full-back Matthieu Louis-Jean could be back in action by the end of the month.

The 30-year-old French defender played just two matches for City last season before suffering a torn hamstring.

But his nightmare is almost over and Louis-Jean believes it will be like a new player arriving at the club when he finally dons his boots again.

“I am working with the ball and doing everything and now it's about getting match fit, and hopefully that will come pretty quickly,” he said. “Maybe two or three weeks.”

Louis-Jean played the first two games of last season for City, but was left out after the 1-1 home draw with Crewe and, after three outings for the reserves, he suffered his devastating setback.