Norwich v Portsmouth: Canaries dealt potential huge injury blow as defender withdraws from international squad
Pompey head to Norwich on Good Friday desperate for points as they look to avoid relegation to League One
The international break has provided Norwich City with a potential fresh injury worry ahead of their game against Pompey on Friday.
The Canaries currently have 10 players away with their national teams as the Championship takes a break for a fourth and final time this season.
One of those players is Terry Devlin’s international team-mate Ruairi McConville, who played alongside the Pompey right-back in Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off semi-final defeat at the hands of Italy last Thursday night.
But while Devlin will be involved in boss Michael O’Neill’s squad for Tuesday night’s friendly against Wales in Cardiff, centre-back McConville has withdrawn from the get-together and returned to Carrow Road.
No official reason has been provided for the exit of the 20-year-old, who is joined by Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Ali McCann (Preston North End) and Paddy McNair (West Brom) in leaving the international camp early.
However, with an injury a realistic possibility for a player desperate to shine on the international stagE, it casts major doubts on his availability for the Blues’ visit to Norfolk.
That will come as a huge blow for Norwich boss Philippe Clement, who had started the former Brighton youngster in all but one of his 25 games in charge until this month’s win against Sheffield United on March 11.
It was a knee injury, though, that prevented the centre-half from adding to his appearance tally in his breakout season with the Canaries. McConville also sat out the following match against PNE, but was straight back into the starting XI once recovered for the games against Southampton and Charlton prior to the international break.
In total, the former Linfield player has made 27 appearances in all competitions for Norwich this season, with 23 of his 24 Championship outings coming as starts.
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Norwich’s injury worries ahead of Pompey
For the Canaries’ last game before the international break, Clement was without 14 players for their 1-0 win over Charlton. The Belgian also had to reshuffle his defence and was forced to play midfielder Liam Gibbs at right-back as he ran out of recognised defenders.
Both Jack Stacey and Ben Chrisene could return from muscle and hamstring issues respectively to shore up the Norwich defence for the game against Pompey.
However, McConville’s potential absence will come as a blow as the 10th-placed Canaries retain hope of making the play-offs.
For the Blues, their trip to Carrow Road comes at a time when they sit 21st in the table and just a point above the relegation zone.
Both Keshi Anderson and Andre Dozzell should return for the Good Friday fixture following injury. However, Ebou Adams could miss out after he injured his knee in the 6-1 defeat against QRR. The midfielder withdrew from The Gambia’s latest international get-together for their friendly against Senegal this month.