Bournemouth vs Norwich preview
Watch match highlights at 5.15pm on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app
Friday 18 October 2019 13:35, UK
Team news, key stats and predictions ahead of Bournemouth vs Norwich in the Premier League.
Team news
Bournemouth midfielder Adam Smith (hamstring) has returned to full training and could be in contention on Saturday after seven weeks on the sidelines.
Eddie Howe has a few other concerns - although did not give many more details - while the Norwich encounter will come too soon for long-term absentees David Brooks (ankle), Dan Gosling (hip) and Junior Stanislas (hamstring).
Norwich will have No 1 goalkeeper Tim Krul back for the trip to Bournemouth, with Kenny McClean, Todd Cantwell, Alex Tettey and Rolando Aarons fit and available. Sam Byram has also recovered from an ankle injury.
Onel Hernandez and Tom Trybull are back training but are not ready for a full game. They will travel with the Norwich squad, though, as will Ben Godfrey. Mario Vrancic is also back in training but is a few weeks away from playing.
How to follow and watch
Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Opta stats
- Norwich have lost their last two meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, more than they had in their previous eight against them (W3 D4 L1).
- Bournemouth and Norwich are the only Premier League sides yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Indeed, Norwich have conceded more goals than any other side (21).
- Bournemouth's Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser have each played 99 Premier League games for the club. The last time a side had two players make their 100th appearance for the club in the competition in the same game was Man City in August 2016 (Jesus Navas and Fernandinho).
- Teemu Pukki has scored Norwich's only away goal in the Premier League so far this season. In eight of the last 10 away league games in which Norwich have scored, Pukki has found the net himself at least once.
Charlie's prediction
This is a good test for Norwich. Teemu Pukki scored two through the week. Bournemouth are strong at home and these are the games which cement their credibility in Premier League.
Everyone was talking about Norwich's result against Manchester City, but they cannot defend and this is why they are in the bottom three. Josh King is coming back from a decent international break, while Callum Wilson will be fresh too.
There are goals in this team and I see this unfolding again. If this was my game at the weekend, I would be quite pleased.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 4-1 (22/1 with Sky Bet)
Super 6: Only 1.6 per cent of Super 6 players have selected the same scoreline as Charlie Nicholas, but what will you predict with £250k on the line? Play for free.
