- How Norwich City lined up against Swansea City under Liam Manning.
- An update on the current injury situation at the club.
- A look at how Clement could line his Norwich side up against the Swans.
Norwich City have been given a 0.7% chance to qualify for the play-offs in the remaining two matches of the Championship season.
As unlikely as it remains, few supporters would have believed that the Canaries would be in play-off contention at all, let alone for the final two games, back when Philippe Clement was first appointed.
The first half of the campaign was a rough ride, particularly under former head coach Liam Manning, and their performance in the reverse fixture against this weekend’s opponents, Swansea City, is evidence of that.
How Norwich lined up against Swansea in October
The Canaries lost 2-1 to the Swans in Wales back in October under Manning, as the league’s top goalscorer Zan Vipotnik struck twice.
Jovon Makama, who started on the right flank, equalised before half-time, thanks to an assist from Josh Sargent, but Swansea’s Slovenian star won the game in the 69th minute.
Completing the attack, Manning selected Oscar Schwartau on the left and Liam Gibbs in the number ten role alongside Makama and Sargent.
Pelle Mattsson and Mirko Topic, who both joined the club last summer, started as the central midfield pairing.
Meanwhile, the back four in front of Vladan Kovacevic was Jack Stacey, Jakov Medic, Harry Darling, and Kenny McLean filling in at left-back.
Latest Norwich injury news
Norwich’s team will look very different to that this time out against Swansea, not least because of the injury issues facing Clement.
In his pre-match press conference, the Belgian boss confirmed that Schwartau remains out after he was absent for the 2-1 win over Derby County on Tuesday night.
Jovon Makama and Papa Diallo will also miss the rest of the season, unless there is an unlikely play-off campaign, and Lucien Mahovo is questionable to take part in the last two matches.
Matej Jurasek, Harry Amass, Ante Crnac, Gabe Forsyth, and Mirko Topic are also expected to be out until next season.
There was some positive news in Clement’s injury update, though, as Ali Ahmed may return to the squad after missing out against Derby with a knee injury.
Predicted Norwich line-up to take on Swansea
Starting off in goal, Vladan Kovacevic must keep his place between the sticks after a sublime performance against Derby in midweek.
There could be a change to the backline, though, as Jack Stacey could drop out for Kellen Fisher to return to right-back and Liam Gibbs to slot back in at left-back.
Whilst Ruairi McConville is available for selection after pulling out through illness on Tuesday, Harry Darling deserves his place in the team after making 13 clearances against the Rams.
Pelle Mattsson, who was my tip to win the Player of the Season, and Kenny McLean should start as the central midfield pairing.
After their assists for the two goals against Derby, Amankwah Forson and Paris Maghoma could take up two of the three attacking midfield slots.
However, with Gibbs dropping back to left-back in this predicted line-up, Errol Mundle-Smith could make his full senior debut on the left flank.
To complete the XI, Mohamed Toure could keep his place in the team as he looks to score for the third game running.
I doubted his involvement as a starter against Derby because of a possible fitness concern, but having Mathias Kvistgaarden available to play the last 25 to 30 minutes means that they can manage his minutes as a starter.
Full Norwich predicted XI vs Swansea: Kovacevic; Fisher, Darling, Cordoba, Gibbs; Mattsson, McLean (C); Forson, Maghoma, Mundle-Smith; Toure
