Can Neil Warnock halt Norwich’s promotion train?

If there’s one manager you don’t want to come up against in the Championship, it’s probably going to be Neil Warnock.

The Middlesbrough boss has built up over 40 years of managerial experience, taking charge of 16 English clubs and winning promotion eight times. His eccentric and often aggressive nature creates an incredible presence on the touchline, and he has a strong reputation of making his teams incredibly hard to play against.

Taking over the Boro provided a big challenge for the 72-year-old, but he’s completely transformed them in just a matter of months. When he arrived at the North Yorkshire club, they were sat outside of the relegation zone on goal difference alone. Warnock guided them to safety in the 2019/20 season, and has now set them up to challenge for promotion this season.

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After 26 games, Middlesbrough are sat seventh in the Championship table, three points off Bournemouth in sixth – a huge transformation from where the club were 12 months ago. While huge improvements have been made, Boro’s recent form has seen them drift further away from their promotion rivals.

Warnock’s side have lost three of their last four league games, their only win coming at ten-man Nottingham Forest. Most recently, the Boro suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to struggling Rotherham, who recorded just their third away win in 2020/21.

It’s not about to get any easier for them either, as Middlesbrough travel down to Norfolk to face league leaders Norwich at Carrow Road.

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The Canaries already have a six point lead at the top of the Championship table, and while a lot of football is yet to be played, many fans are already eyeing up a potential Premier League return next season. Despite being struck by an injury crisis for much of the season, Daniel Farke’s side have remained incredibly consistent, picking up 16 wins from their opening 25 games.

The intense fixture list has seen Teemu Pukki struggle to replicate his scintillating Championship form from 2018/19, but the 30-year-old has still managed to score 11 goals this campaign. Having missed the Canaries’ last four games, he’s in line to return to replace Jordan Hugill on Saturday, who’s been ruled out for the next four weeks.

While midfielder Kenny McLean will also miss out due to a positive Covid-19 test, Norwich will be able to welcome back Adam Idah, Christoph Zimmermann and Xavi Quintilla. New signing Dimitris Giannoulis, who’s joined the Canaries on loan from PAOK, can be included in the squad after obtaining a work permit. It still remains to be seen whether he’ll be given the nod to start on Saturday, with Farke now having three fit left-back options to choose from.

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The German manager also confirmed that Emi Buendia would be staying at the club, despite being subject to intense transfer speculation from Arsenal. The 24-year-old has been a crucial player for the Canaries this campaign, having scored seven and assisted six goals in the Championship.

Warnock may choose to introduce some of his own new signings against their table-topping opponents in Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff. Yannick Bolasie, who saw a loan from Everton fall through earlier in the season, has finally completed his move to Teesside and may be given the nod to start on Saturday. Right-back Darnell Fisher, who scored against Norwich at Carrow Road for Preston back in September, could also be brought into the squad following his arrival from the Lilywhites.

The Boro are big underdogs given their recent form and their opponent’s league position, but Warnock has more than enough knowledge and experience to spring one or two surprises on the Canaries. Norwich have often struggled against sides who sit deep, and Middlesbrough will undoubtedly play an incredibly physical style of play to counter Farke’s fast-paced, free-flowing football.

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