Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Norwich pair Wes Hoolahan and Gary O’Neil are both in contention to start against Aston Villa, having been rested for the Boxing Day defeat by Tottenham.
Andre Wisdom is hoping to overcome a hamstring strain but Matt Jarvis will not be rushed back from a knee injury.
Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez is out with the hamstring injury he sustained against West Ham.
Captain Micah Richards is close to a return from a knee injury and could be involved after a four-match absence.
Editor’s Note: A relegation 6 pointer at Carrow Road this afternoon as both sides find themselves in and around the dreaded drop zone with especially in Aston Villa’s case games running out for them to escape.
Norwich looked lively in the first 20 minutes against Tottenham on Saturday but withered away once Spurs took the lead, they will be hoping to be more of a threat at home to a Villa side who are still searching for a first win since the opening day of the season.
Villa showed enough fight to get back into the game against West Ham on Saturday but still don’t have enough to get over the line and beat teams. Remi Garde’s men have shown signs of improvement over the last two matches, coming back to gain points against Newcastle and West Ham but for Garde he is still looking for his first win since he took charge and the longer that run continues the more certainties that Villa are for the drop.
I think this is a game that Villa can’t afford to lose and will set out to draw first and win later, the key for Norwich is whether Alex Neil can pick his Norwich side up after Saturday’s defeat. I reckon the two sides will cancel each other out in a tepid encounter. A nervy draw for me.
