After making his comeback to international play for Cuba, Onel Hernandez has provided Norwich City with a much-needed conditioning boost.
After the current international break, the winger, who has missed the last nine Championship games due to a hamstring injury, is expected to make a comeback as City travels to West Brom.
Hernandez has shown that he is well enough to travel to North America, even though it was not anticipated that he would join Cuba during this break. Early on Thursday morning, he participated in 90 minutes of their 2-1 loss to St. Kitts and Nevis.
The City winger is eligible to play for Cuba for the eleventh time in the second leg on Monday after playing throughout the whole Concacaf Nations League Play-In Round in Monkey Hill.
St Kitts and Nevis won thanks to goals from Oxford City defender Andre Burley and former Brentford, West Brom, and Cardiff midfielder Romaine Sawyers. Luis Paradela scored Cuba’s goal.
In extra time, Orlando Calvo became enraged for the visitors. Prior to this international break, City’s poor Championship performance was partly caused by their lengthy injury list.
As City looks for ways to lessen the damage of losing starting striker Josh Sargent to a groin injury earlier this month, Hernandez has been hailed as a possible striking option.
Johannes Hoff Thorup thinks the 31-year-old, who is in his ninth season at Carrow Road, would develop into a striking option with Ashley Barnes, who is soon to be fit. He did play there in a League Cup match against Stevenage.
When asked if Hernandez and Barnes would return for West Brom, Thorup responded, “That’s the plan.”
“We must exercise caution, particularly when it comes to players returning from chronic injuries; we must be a little cautious in how we reintegrate them into the team.”
It involves striking a delicate balance in the current circumstance so as not to put them under undue pressure.
“I’m crossing my fingers that the players who are currently out will return soon so they can help us. Josh is obviously out, and I believe Emiliano gave his best, but I’m also hoping that Ashley Barnes will return soon so he can give us another alternative. ”
That might potentially be an option because we’ve seen Onel play like a nine for us this season. Naturally, however, getting these boys back comes first.
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