David Cuffley Midfielder Korey Smith is in line for a recall to the Norwich City side for tomorrow night's Carling Cup first round tie against Gillingham at Carrow Road (7.45pm).

David Cuffley

Midfielder Korey Smith is in line for a recall to the Norwich City side for tomorrow night's Carling Cup first round tie against Gillingham at Carrow Road (7.45pm).

With new signing and debut goalscorer Andrew Crofts on international duty for Wales, who play Luxembourg at Llanelli on Wednesday night, 19-year-old Smith is a strong candidate to replace him on the right side of midfield.

He was on the bench for the 3-2 Championship defeat by Watford on Friday night after recovering from the shin injury he suffered in a pre-season friendly at Dagenham.

“Korey's doing fine - he's back from his knock so he'll be in the squad,” said manager Paul Lambert today.

“He's probably been unfortunate not to start but I know what I get from him every week.”

Smith was a regular in the League One title campaign but had to sit out the Championship opener against the Hornets.

“It's another big jump, another bit of his development where sometimes you take knocks. It's how you come back from it and he's been fine. His attitude in training has been great and I don't have a problem with Korey,” said Lambert.

Another possible midfield replacement, Stephen Hughes, will be in the squad but is still troubled by a sore ankle.

Defenders Steven Smith (ankle ligaments) and Zak Whitbread (calf) and forward Luke Daley (thigh) are still sidelined.

Lambert must decide whether to recall skipper Grant Holt to the starting line-up after his 18-minute outing against Watford but may err on the side of caution as last season's leading scorer recovers from a thigh injury.

“Grant has missed a good bit of pre-season and we just can't throw him in right away where he can do more damage,” he said.

Cody McDonald, on a season-long loan to Gillingham, will not be permitted to play against the Canaries under the terms of the loan deal. McDonald is, in any case, troubled by a foot injury that forced him to miss Saturday's first league game against Cheltenham.

Lambert made six changes for last season's Carling Cup tie at home to Sunderland - his second game in charge - but was giving nothing away about his likely line-up tomorrow.

“I'm not going to take it lightly. I'll just pick a team that I think will go and win us the game,” he said.