Norwich City vs Stoke City. Sky Bet Championship.
Carrow RoadAttendance24,992.
Friday 5 October 2018 14:31, UK
Norwich winger Onel Hernandez is in contention for a return to action in the Sky Bet Championship clash with Stoke at Carrow Road.
Hernandez has been sidelined since mid-September with a hernia problem, but Canaries boss Daniel Farke confirmed the German midfielder should be included in the squad again.
Ben Marshall is stepping up his recovery from illness, while captain Grant Hanley remains sidelined by a thigh problem. Midfielder Kenny McLean (ankle) continues his rehabilitation along with winger Matt Jarvis (ankle/knee) and forward Carlton Morris (knee).
Stoke boss Gary Rowett has no fresh injury problems for the trip to Norfolk. Winger James McClean showed no ill effects from his return to action in following a broken arm in the midweek win over Bolton.
Forward Mame Diouf has been training again after a hamstring problem, so will come into contention. Midfielder Sam Clucas, a summer signing from Swansea, continues his recovery from knee surgery and should be available for a belated debut after the international break, while Thibaud Verlinden remains in the treatment room.
Norwich and Stoke last met outside the Premier League in March 2008, with Stoke winning 1-0 at Carrow Road in a Championship clash.
Stoke have won one of their last 11 away league visits to Norwich (D5 L5).
None of Norwich's last 10 home league games have ended level, with the Canaries winning six (L4).
Stoke have won just one of their last 19 away league games (D9 L9), with that victory coming at Swansea in the Premier League last season.
Tom Ince has scored in each of his last three league appearances for Stoke - he last found the net in four consecutive games in November 2012 for Blackpool.
Stoke manager Gary Rowett is unbeaten in four Championship encounters with Norwich City (P4 W2 D2 L0).
Norwich's winning run came to an end at Derby on Wednesday night but it still took a late goal from the Rams to deny them all three points. They really appear to have turned a corner under Daniel Farke.
Stoke saw off Bolton in midweek but did not look entirely convincing in doing so. This is a big step up in terms of quality of opposition and I feel like this will be a narrow home win.
David Prutton predicts: 1-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
