Norwich City manager Peter Grant is “hopeful” that defender Jason Shackell will be fit for Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship match at Luton Town. Shackell has missed the last three weeks' training - though he played 45 minutes against Wolves last week - but started training again this week, although whether the City boss will put him back in the side is still open to question.

Norwich City manager Peter Grant is “hopeful” that defender Jason Shackell will be fit for Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship match at Luton Town.

Shackell has missed the last three weeks' training - though he played 45 minutes against Wolves last week - but started training again this week, although whether the City boss will put him back in the side is still open to question.

Grant said: “He has trained since Tuesday. He was obviously blowing a bit but we are hopeful. Whether I would rush him in is another matter.

“In my mind he is a very important player but if it means giving him an extra day and missing Saturday's match to ensure he is 100 per cent fit, I will do that.

“Left-sided centre backs are very difficult to get no matter where you go. Jason is desperate to play but he has to be 100 per cent.”

Grant added that he would not be afraid to change the side that beat Leeds United 2-1 last weekend, so captain Adam Drury may slot back in at left-back after serving a one-match suspension.

The City boss was also waiting for players such as Youssef Safri to come back from international duty and will monitor their fitness when they return to the club.

Safri played 85 minutes for Morocco in last night's 1-1 draw at home to Tunisia.

Meanwhile, City beat freezing conditions today by switching training from Colney to Carrow Road.

As snow finally arrived in the city, the Canaries took the opportunity to train with the benefit of undersoil heating.

Despite serious problems in the Luton area today through heavy snowfall - with the airport closed for between two and four hours amid warnings of delays and cancellations - the Hatters are confident the game will go ahead on Saturday.

A club spokesman said: “We don't have undersoil heating, but the pitch has been covered for the last two days.

“The forecast is for rain, so everything should be fine for Saturday.”

Temperatures are expected to rise to seven degrees C in Luton by the weekend, with sleet forecast tomorrow and light rain on Saturday.