Fit-again Norwich defender Steven Whittaker will make his first senior City appearance in the Capital One Cup tie against Tottenham at Carrow Road. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich City duo Steven Whittaker and Jacob Butterfield to feature in Tottenham cup-tie
Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
3:11 PM
Chris Hughton is finally ready to unleash fit-again Scottish international Steven Whittaker on Tottenham in tomorrow’s Capital One Cup last 16 round tie at Carrow Road.
Hughton confirmed on Tuesday afternoon Whittaker and midfielder Jacob Butterfield will both feature against Spurs, with Russell Martin (back) the only injury absentee after lasting 45 minutes in the weekend Premier League draw at Aston Villa.
Martin will be assessed during the rest of this week ahead of Stoke’s league visit this weekend, but Hughton delivered a positive bulletin on Whittaker who is set for his senior City debut. The defender underwent ankle ligament surgery after suffering the injury in a pre-season friendly at Celtic, but Hughton believes the Scot is now ready to make a belated appearance. Butterfield is also poised for a return to action after his own comeback from a long-term knee problem was held up when he suffered a reaction to the knee injury following his debut in the previous round’s win over Doncaster.
“Yes, and it will be good to have them back and that brings real competition,” said Hughton. “Real competition for places and experienced competition. I think Jacob, who will be involved tomorrow, would probably be the youngest involved in the group. We’ll need that because we are injury-free now but we will spells during the season when we won’t be. The only one who will miss the game is Russell Martin, who came off at half-time with a back problem. He is still pretty sore at the minute so he will miss the game but apart from that everyone else is fit and available.”
Hughton is downplaying the significance of City’s impressive early season Premier League draw against Andre Villas-Boas’ side at White Hart Lane on the eve of their cup re-match.
“They may put out a different side to that game and they are in a slightly different place now,” said Hughton. “They are on the back of a very good performance at Southampton and their season is going along very, very well. They have a lot of consistency and quality in the team. The fact we were able to go their, perform well and give a good account of ourselves gives us the confidence to know we can play well against the likes of Tottenham. “It will be a completely different atmosphere tomorrow. We will have a very good crowd and we need to give them something to cheer about. We are on the back of two good performances. I felt we were always confident with the performances we had put in before that, and I know most managers would sit here and say the same thing – they feel they should have more points – but I generally feel that our performances warranted better outcomes. We have always had that confidence but it helps if you are able to beat the likes of an Arsenal at Carrow Road and on the back of that one it was a very good performance at Aston Villa and that should have been another win.”
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16 comments
Hi, Pa. Hen night?? I originally proposed a formation based on the players in the recent selections as signed by different managers:- 5 Lambos, 4 Hoots, 1 Gunn, 1 Roeder. Hence the 5-4-1-1 formation. No goalkeeper. There`s a shortage of goalkeepers! Play Ruddy in the centre of a flat back 5.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
You have to have a good long-term memory to remember a Norwich City cup run so history is all we've got.There's still history to be made starting tonight getting a little bit of justice for that '73 final and our 1975 conquerors Aston Villa could await.I for one have waited long enough to have a decent cup run.This could be the year.
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Peter Watson
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Morning Brew on time! …...We have discussed “The Chevron “(4-2-1-2-1) in some detail, and also your version of “Concord” (4-2-2-1-1) …...Now you have brought “The Giraaafe “ (4-2-1-1-1-1) into the picture... I don't somehow think it would be too successful as a line up for a Premiership game, but it could be usefull if you were invited to a Hen Night!
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Pa Snipps
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Agree, Wiv. Give Declan a chance in goal. I fear for his career prospects the way things are shaping up. Likewise Jed and Ryan Bennett. Unless a "big" club is after Dec or something. There has to be some sort of agenda. JGL, I`ll never forget that BBC commentator describing Asa Hartford as "a whole-hearted player" within seconds of talking about Asa`s "hole in the heart". Classic Colemanballs. Not sure who it actually was, though!
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
wont play Sunderland in the final now, they went and lost at home to M'boro. So only a couple of changes tonight please, and what chance of an England U21 player getting a game in goal [a current one] . went to submit but got error 503 so after a second submission no doubt it will appear twice.
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wivenhoebudgie
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
wont play Sunderland in the final now, they went and lost at home to M'boro. So only a couple of changes tonight please, and what chance of an England U21 player getting a game in goal [a current one]
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wivenhoebudgie
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Came straight back up again indeed Brew, as we did three times during that magic period from the early 70s to the early 90s. And the goal may have been a deflection but City should have won by 6 or 7, they completely dominated Sunderland.
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Johnny Gavin Lives
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Don`t talk it up, Pondy!! Asa Hartford, the whole-hearted player, got the only (deflected) goal. We did come straight back up the following season, I think? And we still have the "Friendship Cup". Unless we play it vs any team with Lambo in charge in the future?
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Norwich to narrowly beat Sunderland in the final and then both teams to be relegated. Nah it could never happen
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Pondlife
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Pa, ol` pal, have you done the `Houghton` thing just for a giraaarfe? ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
C`mon Pa! That "Houghton" was a deliberate Tantalus was it not?? The Grapes of Froth.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
It`s because he`s been outstanding in training, Lobbo. ;-) His fellow Scots may well vote to get rid of Trident ere long.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
unleash Steven Whittaker on Tottenham hey, sounds like a secret weapon.
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Lobbo
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I think a decent cup run would be good for the club and supporters , but Wes Hoolahan should be rested for these games, Holt too, just in case of injuries . They are more important to us in the league..... Mr Houghton should try playing the “Chevron” with other players at his disposal in these games
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Pa Snipps
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
A cup run would be good but it would mean playing more games and more likelyhood of players getting injured and we can't afford that so do we really want a cup run
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leslie cater
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
So Butterfield DID have an injury niggle. I hope he`s OK to come in so soon after the Doncaster game. Very timely that Whittaker is fit again now Cafu`s picked up a back prob. Hoots is talking up the opposition again but not really talking down the Canaries this time. Mind games are fine...... A Cup run would be a tonic. He`s done it before with Brum, on 3 fronts.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012