Norwich City are set to face Stoke City on Saturday, with the Potters coming off a confidence-boosting 3-1 win over Swansea City.
This season has been far from ideal for both sets of fans. Norwich find themselves stuck in mid-table, struggling for consistency, while Stoke are nervously glancing over their shoulders at the looming threat of relegation.
Despite Norwich’s mid-table position, the play-off race remains wide open, with just four points separating them from sixth-placed West Brom. This inconsistency has been frustrating for supporters, as a string of wins could propel the Canaries into the top six.
After last weekend’s draw against Hull City, this match presents an opportunity for Norwich to return to winning ways. On paper, Stoke’s league position suggests a favorable fixture for the Canaries, but with the Potters’ recent victory over Swansea, Norwich will hope that result hasn’t ignited a resurgence under Mark Robins. Still, Norwich possess key attacking threats that Stoke must contain if they aim to secure a positive result.
Stoke City warned about Norwich’s Jurasek
Borja Sainz has been a standout performer for Norwich this season, netting 15 goals from the wing. However, FLW’s Norwich fan pundit, Zeke, believes recent signing Matej Jurasek could be the one to watch on Saturday.
When asked about Norwich’s danger men, Zeke said:
*”There are two obvious choices—[Josh] Sargeant and [Borja] Sainz. But I might go with [Matej] Jurasek. He’s still relatively unknown, and teams haven’t figured him out yet.
He’s a strong player with a lot of potential. I’ve been really impressed with his start, and I think he’ll only get better.”*
Jurasek could be Norwich’s secret weapon
The Czech winger joined Norwich in mid-January, signing a long-term deal until June 2030—a clear statement of intent from owner Mark Attanasio. The 21-year-old has already shown promise in his first two appearances, and fans will be hoping he can help Norwich build momentum in this crucial stage of the season.
Jurasek arrived from Slavia Prague with high expectations, costing Norwich around £5.8 million. However, if he can play a key role in pushing the club toward the play-offs, that investment will be well worth it.
As Zeke pointed out, Jurasek is still an unknown quantity in the Championship, making him a potential game-changer for Johannes Hoff Thorup—not just against Stoke, but for the remainder of the campaign.
