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At the end of November, you could almost name a full starting XI made up of players on Norwich’s injury list.
Despite this, the Canaries have lost just one game since the start of October and currently sit top of the Sky Bet Championship table.
This is a remarkable achievement from Daniel Farke’s side. Norwich have regularly been naming two goalkeepers and multiple youth players in the squad to make up enough numbers on the bench.
Starting goalkeeper Tim Krul has been out, meaning that 36-year-old backup Michael McGovern has had to step into the lineup. An injury to Villarreal loanee Xavi Quintilla has seen defensive midfielder Jacob Sorensen move to left-back. The likes of Tom Dickson-Peters, Reece McAlear, Tyrese Omotoye and Andrew Omobamidele have come onto the bench from the U23 team – all of whom are just 18-years-old.
However, avoiding defeat against Cardiff on Saturday will see the Canaries remain top of the table for Christmas. 11 of the last 12 teams to be in the same position have won promotion to the Premier League.
The Bluebirds will provide a stern test for their table-topping opponents, with Neil Harris’ side having won five of their last six league matches. While they sit 11 points off their upcoming opponents, a win at Carrow Road could take them level on points with Brentford in sixth.
They’ll have to do it without their star man, however, as top-scorer Kieffer Moore will remain sidelined with a torn hamstring he suffered in Cardiff’s 2-0 home defeat to arch-rivals Swansea. The former Barnsley striker has found the net eight times already this season, but the Bluebirds will have to rely on Robert Glatzel up-front instead. The German’s penalty opened the scoring in his side’s last match, a 3-2 win at home to Birmingham.
Norwich’s top-scorer will certainly be raring to go in Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff. Teemu Pukki has been instrumental in Norwich’s recent success, having scored ten in his last 17 matches. The Finnish international has an astounding record in the second tier, finishing as top scorer in 2018/19 with 29 goals.
Farke will be hoping that Pukki can continue to replicate his red-hot form from that season, which saw the Canaries win the Championship title and promotion to the top-flight. The disastrous end to their subsequent Premier League campaign has been quickly forgotten, with all eyes set on an immediate return.
Cardiff certainly won’t be fazed by a trip to Carrow Road given their own run of good form. The Bluebirds will be keen on moving into the playoff places for Christmas, which would be some accomplishment given their abysmal start to the season which saw them win just two of their first nine league fixtures.
Former Norwich man Josh Murphy left for Cardiff in the summer before the Canaries won the Championship title, and may feature at Carrow Road after recovering from an illness in midweek. He was one of the key players in Farke’s first season at the club, and the undisclosed fee in his move to the Welsh capital is believed to be a staggering £11 million.
But the Canaries, despite all the obstacles they’ve faced, seem to beat the odds every time. They’ve won all of their last four games by a 2-1 margin, and while much is made of the quality of the squad, a lot of their success is down to the motivation and determination of Farke’s side. Their stamina and energy is undeniable, setting them up as one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in the division – and it gets the results too.
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