Daniel Farke has full faith in Stuart Webber to plug the gaps in Norwich City’s squad ahead of the Championship kick-off.

The Pink Un: Daniel Farke takes Norwich City to Stevenage tonight. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdDaniel Farke takes Norwich City to Stevenage tonight. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

City need defensive reinforcements, but the recent departures of both Graham Dorrans and Jonny Howson, plus an injury setback for Louis Thompson, have turned the focus on the club’s midfield options.

Summer arrivals Harrison Reed and Mario Vrancic are both poised for another outing on Tuesday night at League Two Stevenage.

“When I joined Norwich I was informed some really good and experienced players could leave the club and I said, okay, whatever happens I will handle it,” said head coach Farke. “It’s a big challenge, we know in these positions we have to search for one or perhaps two options to replace them.

“We are still awake and searching for them and I am pretty content with the work of Stuart Webber. He did pretty good and I’m sure he will present some new players. If not then I have to deal with it, so no problems, but I’m sure we’ll have some good solutions.

“We have to consider that we had a bad injury to Louis Thompson unfortunately at the start of pre-season and that is two pretty experienced losses with Graham and Jonny. They did a very good job in the last few years but that’s part of the job.”

Reed made his first appearance, since sealing a season-long loan move from Southampton, in the 5-1 friendly win at Lowestoft.

“For sure it was difficult to bring him, he had his first training session in the morning with the team and then play,” said Farke. “He has to get used to the team and our ideas, that was the reason to bring him to the pitch.

“It was a pretty exhausting week for the guys (in Ireland), we were in the training camp and have done much work, we arrived late Friday, had a hard session Saturday morning and then straight to the bus to come to the game. For sure, we could have scored at least 10 more, there were chances for 17 or 18 goals but it’s quite normal when you are tired and a little bit exhausted that you are not able to take every chance so I don’t mind.”

Ivo Pinto (hamstring), Russell Martin (back) and Timm Klose (leg) all sat out the trip to Crown Meadow and will undergo further assessment before Farke decides whether to draft them in for the trip to Stevenage, who have ex-Norwich boss Glenn Roeder acting as an advisor to coach Darren Sarll.

Stevenage opened their friendly campaign with a 1-1 weekend draw at Hitchin.

“What I want to see from my teams is a hard-working, honest, energetic and enthusiastic manner towards the game,” he said, after the game against the non-league Canaries. “I thought that for some young players who really need to do double what a senior player does, I thought they fell short.

“That second half team needs to learn some lessons today about what it is and how it is to play for Stevenage. You won’t be getting a jersey without an honesty and respect for it.”