Roeder calls on fans to be twelfth man

David Cuffley

Manager Glenn Roeder has appealed to Norwich City supporters to play the role of the extra man against Derby at Carrow Road tomorrow.

With injuries, a suspension and the recall of on-loan Jonathan Grounds to Middlesbrough depriving the Canaries of four central defenders, Roeder believes the crowd's vocal support will be even more crucial than normal.

“We're going to need our supporters tomorrow probably more than any time this year because of the situation we've got in central defence,” he said.

“I think they will recognise the problems we have with injuries and I'd like to think they'll get behind us even more than they normally do.”

Roeder would not divulge his likely line-up, but said the Rams were well aware of City's defensive absentees.

He said: “We can't hide that from Paul Jewell. He knows Kennedy's out, he knows Stefanovic is suspended, he knows Grounds has gone back, he knows Doherty's injured.

“We can't hide that but I'm not telling him anything else.

“All this situation creates is we are going to lack height in the centre of defence but often the little man can beat the big man. That's the beauty of football.”

Northern Ireland international Sammy Clingan could return after missing five games with a shoulder injury, possibly in the centre of defence.

“He's got a good chance of being fit. He looks like he's recovered quicker than we thought. Whether he's recovered enough in time for tomorrow, we'll assess him this morning. But he has got a good chance of being involved,” said Roeder.

However, midfielder Matty Pattison is likely to miss out for the second game in a row with a hamstring problem.

“With Matthew Pattison we've got the same situation we had before Barnsley,” said Roeder. “He's probably not quite 100 per cent fit and now we've got an opportunity with a two-week break to get him 100 per cent fit for the Bristol City game.”