David Wagner will opt for continuity to navigate Norwich City through their poor run of Championship form.
A 2-1 defeat to Swansea in midweek served as the latest blow for Wagner’s men with defensive errors at the core of a frustrating night in South Wales.
Wagner has named the same back five in all of City’s 10 Championship matches to date with Angus Gunn, Jack Stacey and Shane Duffy having played every minute of their league campaign to date.
That contrasts with their attacking positions, where the City head coach has shuffled his pack constantly.
City’s boss has once again vowed to lean on a settled defensive line-up as they bid to halt their poor form with a victory over the Sky Blues, who remain unbeaten at home this season.
“In general, especially defensively, I like to have a settled set-up. If we change something in these positions it will be because of fresh legs which we like to get into the team.
“Especially in the middle of the park and defensively I quite like to have a settled team,” Wagner said. “That doesn’t mean that there are moments where you should make changes to keep everyone healthy.
“You have to make them in the right moment I think it makes sense to make the changes so that no one breaks down.”
Duffy, who has played every minute of City’s Championship mission, was culpable for Swansea’s opening goal on Wednesday.
Alongside international football, Duffy has seen an significant rise in his minutes since arriving at Carrow Road in the summer. The same applies to Stacey, who was on the periphery of Bournemouth’s squad but has become a major player under Wagner.
Despite the demand on those defenders, Wagner has praised their contribution to City’s cause in the early weeks of the campaign.
“If you take Shane, he played for Ireland in two games as well and has been called up again; it’s unbelievable how many minutes and on what kind of a good level he played and performed so far,” City’s boss said.
“Jack Stacey the other example. This position is maybe the position in our system where you have to make the most yards, the most high-intensive runs as well, and he delivers it week in, week out, if necessary three times a week.
“It is just great and unbelievable, what a super fit guy he is and that his body recovers so quick week in week that he is able to live with this. You name the right both players who have been outstanding so far.”
Wagner is also confident that he can depend on midfielder Adam Forshaw to last 90 minutes with the midfielder having worked up his fitness after joining on a free transfer from Leeds United.
The experienced man made his first start at Swansea, and Wagner believes the 31-year-old is now ready to last the distance, even if there is a need to manage his load.
“I think Forshy would be able to play 90 minutes, not two times 90 minutes in a row, but he would be able to play 90 minutes,” Wagner said.
“I’m very pleased with him, how he adapted to our training regime, how he progressed his fitness, his game minutes as well.
“I said this before he is a big part of our squad in my mind and one of the important things is that we keep him healthy, that he will not break down over the season, and for this we have to be very smart – and he is as well, even if he is like a player desperate to play every minute, he knows exactly when we rest him and this will be always the case as long as he works with us.
“We really have an eye on him after what he experienced in the last years that we make sure that we look after him and give him time to rest at the right moment as well.”
Norwich travel to Coventry who have injury issues of their own but have recorded consecutive wins over QPR and Blackburn as their changed side continue to gel.
Wagner is acutely aware of the difficulty of the task ahead this afternoon, but is hopeful they will rise to the challenge posed by Mark Robins’ men.
After the frustration of Wednesday night’s defeat, Wagner is hoping for a different tone heading into October’s international break.
“Frustration was there and is there because we gave points away but it is what it is,” Wagner said. “This is the Championship and the games come thick and fast, we need to leave in the past what is in the past.
