- Ante Crnac has been out with an ACL injury since October.
- The Croatian forward is yet to make an appearance for Philippe Clement.
- An update on when he will be back in training for Norwich City.
Philippe Clement has had to deal with a never-ending list of injury issues throughout his time in charge of Norwich City this season.
It feels apt, therefore, that he confirmed that captain Kenny McLean will miss the final game of the campaign against Hull City through injury this weekend.
The one injury that has been a constant during Clement’s Norwich tenure has been Ante Crnac’s absence with a ruptured ACL.
How Ante Crnac got injured
The Croatia U21 international’s last appearance for the Canaries was in the 1-0 defeat to Derby County at Pride Park under Liam Manning in October.
In the second half of the loss to the Rams, Crnac ruptured his right ACL whilst trying to turn and had to be withdrawn from the game, having come on as a substitute.
Manning confirmed in his subsequent press conference that the left-footed attacker would miss the remainder of the campaign with an ACL injury.
To that point, Crnac had not produced a goal or an assist in 11 Championship outings under the English head coach.
Clement on Crnac’s return from injury for Norwich…
Now, seven months later, Clement has revealed that the attacker will be fit and available for the start of pre-season in July.
Speaking to the Pink Un on Friday, the Belgian boss confirmed that Crnac will be in training for the start of pre-season, whilst Mirko Topic will return from his ACL injury later in the summer.
When asked about how much he looks forward to working with the forward, Clement said: “I’ve heard a lot of good things about his personality and his attitude. I’m excited to work with him.”
Interestingly, the former Rangers and Monaco tactician also left the door open to where Crnac could play under him next season, suggesting that he could provide competition as a number nine or play out wide.
The Croatian forward has played as a right winger, a left winger, a centre-forward, an attacking midfielder, and even as a left left-wing back in two seasons at Carrow Road.
Where Crnac could fit in under Clement
Considering Norwich have Jovon Makama, Mo Toure, and Mathias Kvistgaarden in the building and are in the market for another striker, Crnac may not get many chances as a centre-forward next season.
Clement, though, does favour a left-footed player on the right wing. Currently, Crnac and Matej Jurasek are the only left-footed right wing options in the first-team heading into the summer.
Jurasek is yet to score a league goal in 18 months at the club, whilst the Croatian starlet scored seven times for Johannes Hoff Thorup in the 2024/25 campaign.
It could, therefore, make sense for the 22-year-old attacker to fit in on the right flank, cutting inside onto his left foot, for Clement next season.
That does not mean that Crnac should be the guaranteed starter or first-choice option, as the Canaries look set to sign another right winger this summer, but he could be a very useful player in that role.
Norwich have had to play right-footed central midfielders, strikers, attacking midfielders, and even full-backs on the right wing at times this season due to their lack of options.
Having Crnac and a potential new signing to fill that role next season could solve that issue for Clement.
