STANDBY! Borja Sainz is available for selection!!! He's back baby! League top scorer Borja Sainz should be a starting line-up guarantee having completed his 6-match ban and now once again, able to link up with Sargent. Norwich will have another chance to climb into the playoff spots Tuesday evening if they can beat visiting Preston. The Lilywhites are in inconsistent form, currently sat in 15th having lost to Blackburn in their previous Championship game however, they will be feeling positive (if not a little knackered) having overcome Wycombe in the FA Cup on the weekend. Preston had to deal with extra time and penalties, but they're through to the 5th round. With Sainz returning, it's a good chance that means Dobbin, who has been playing well since he joined earlier in the window will need to drop back to the bench. Jacob Wright got a few mins at the end of the Derby game but will have to oust either Kenny or Nunez for a start on Tuesday. Jurasek will be hoping to get some debut minutes against PNE as well. West Brom play Blackburn on Weds. One or both are dropping points there, so Norwich could really close the gap on playoffs with a positive outcome against Preston. The reverse fixture earlier in the season was a 2-2 comeback draw. Goals from Sainz and Duffy. Suffolk’s injury latest to follow… OTBC
Is he a guaranteed starter? In my mind he might not be match sharp after such a long ban, so more of a 55th minute sub type scenario
I think it could be important to get him up to speed ASAP. JHT has suggested rotation for this one and Dobbin has played almost every minute (which he needed) since arriving. It would be exciting to see Sainz and Jurasek start on each wing with Dobbin able to come in for either of them.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Sainz start on the bench, particularly if Jurasek starts on the right. IMO we are too left-wards lop-sided with Sainz in the team. I believe that has been damaging to Srnac's integration and development, and I don't see the point of signing Jurasek if that same imbalance is going to persist. Nor can it be taken for granted that Sainz is simply going to pick up from where he left off; as Rob suggests, a second-half sub on 60 mins will quite likely be the plan for him. [Edit] I also think Sainz will be gone in the summer, maybe for less than we originally thought/hoped.
Squad update *Updated after Press Conference* Sainz - IN - Suspension has been served Marcondes - OUT - 1-2 weeks - has been playing with a hip injury - hopefully just rest needed possibly an injection Hernandez - OUT - 1 week - Slight knee issue - targeting Hull game Forsyth - OUT - 1-2 weeks - knee injury - Felt pain on return to training Forson - OUT - 1-2 weeks - knee knock - still feeling pain, draining blood from knee and it keeps coming back Gibbs - OUT - 3-4 weeks - hamstring injury Springett - OUT - 12 weeks - back injury - re-occurrence Mair - OUT - Returned to the club after breaking his finger.
We are finally at the stage where even though the injury list is still very long, I think only one (Forson) is a potential starting XI player and even then far from guaranteed.
There's an argument that most, if not all of those wouldn't make the bench of the current squad available.
I can see your logic, Robbie, but that left hand bias has continued during the 6 match ban. JHT pointed out that the development of both Crnac and Schwartau has been delayed by their playing so much and training less. I agree with Suffolk that it would be "exciting to see Sainz and Jurasek start on each wing" and it could provide the balance we've been missing with Crnac playing out of position on the right. It would also provide rotation with a strong bench available after 60 minutes or so. With so many players available, we shouldn't be playing square pegs in round holes. Here's WhoScored's predicted lineups:
https://not606.com/threads/norwich-city-carrow-road-11-2-2025.416747/ 3511 for us methinks Storey out long term, McCann suspended
Important to note the subheading as well -- the need to "take care" of those only recently back from injury, i.e. Sargent, Slimane and Núñez. With Sainz back available, and Jurásek to make his first appearance, that's a lot of plates for the coaching team to keep spinning.
I liked Thorup's rapping the knuckles of, among others, the local journalists, for all the talk about the points to be gained from this run of games -- Derby onwards. Even at full strength there are no easy games, and we aren't by any means at full strength yet (see above).
I'm still puzzled over some fans claiming Sainz needs to be introduced gradually or have his minutes managed. He isn't coming back from an injury. He would have been able to continue training at max levels. If anything he should be peaking and ready for 90. He owes us minutes
It will be key how we start I think, as long as we are not too deflated by the last minute equaliser at the weekend and can pick up brightly we will be okay
Thorup said pre-match that Sainz wouldn't be ready for 90 minutes; the options were for him to be subbed on at some point, or to start and be taken off at some point. Given that Sainz had been struggling for quite a while prior to the Sunderland game, with teams targeting him, why should he immediately displace young Dobbin, who has given 100% since arriving, has fitted in well, and just begun to show his worth? The news that Marcondes isn't fit to play alters the picture however, making it more likely IMO that Sainz will start.
Sainz could come in and move Dobbin out to the RW. Personally I’d like to see both Sainz and Jurasek start, but it’s unlikely that they would both complete the 90. No criticism of Dobbin, more that he has played 90mins for the last 6 games after barely featuring at WBA for the first half of the season, and might need a break with 3 games in a week
