Despite several injuries in attacking positions, Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup has ruled out acquiring a free agency striker.
Thorup has little options in attacking positions as a result of the Canaries losing players like Ashley Barnes, Onel Hernandez, and Josh Sargent to injuries in previous years.
Since they haven’t won a game since early October and frequently had to rely on individual displays of skill from Borja Sainz to score their goals, it is evident that it has also had an impact on their play.
After more than a year without suffering a loss at Carrow Road, their recent 2-0 home loss to Bristol City ended their winning streak and left them in the bottom half of the standings heading into the international break.
In spite of this, Thorup insisted in the aftermath that he would wait for players to heal from injuries before signing a free agency striker.
Johannes Hoff Thorup of Norwich City says he will not sign a free agent striker.
Due to their lack of attacking alternatives, the Canaries have already signed one free agent, Emiliano Marcondes, a Danish attacking midfielder who was used as a false nine in their loss to Bristol City.
Thorup, however, flatly denied that he would recruit another free agent to fill in for players like Sargent and Barnes, even though they lost and failed to score.
“We cannot just keep bringing in players, because when the rest are back fit again we end up having a squad with 35 players, and that’s also not ideal,” Thorup told The Pink Un following his team’s loss to the Robins.
“To help these gamers, we need to develop even better solutions.
“Let’s see if we can start a week where we can have more training sessions and help the players heal and regain their energy so they can be prepared to perform, improve, and prepare as best they can. The only thing we can do is that.
“If there were ten or more players on the injury suspension list, every team in the league, regardless of where you look, would be a little bit vulnerable.”
Following the international break, returning players could help Norwich City.
Thorup, who is sorely lacking in firepower up front, will benefit greatly from Ashley Barnes’ anticipated return to duty following the international break.
Barnes will be thrilled to return to the field after a protracted absence, and his plenty of Championship experience would be a tremendous assist.
Thorup stated to The Pink Un: “I cross my fingers that the guys out now will be back soon again so they can support us, because up front, obviously Josh is out, and I think Emiliano did what he could, but a guy like Ashley Barnes will also come back into the group, hopefully soon, so he can give us another option.”
In order to move over their recent setbacks and begin climbing the table, the Canaries will be hoping that Barnes and Onel Hernandez will soon be fully recovered.
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