Norwich City manager Philippe Clement has shut down speculation linking Kellen Fisher with a move to Hull City after the England Under-21 winger suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday’s 0-0 friendly draw at AFC Wimbledon. The Belgian insisted no bids have been made for any of his first-team players as the Canaries sit ninth in the Championship with 65 points from 46 games.
What happened?
Fisher was forced off in training on Tuesday after landing awkwardly on a team-mate’s foot, leaving his ankle swollen and painful. The injury forced Norwich City to adjust their planned rotation with Jack Stacey, who played 60 minutes before being withdrawn at half-time as a precaution. Clement described the setback as “bad luck” but stressed the squad’s depth remains intact despite recent absences, including full-back Lucien Mahovo ruled out for three months with ankle ligament damage.
The Canaries, who sit 30 points behind league leaders Coventry, have already lost Fisher for at least the next few days while medical staff assess the damage at their Teddington training base. Clement’s side have scored 63 goals this season but conceded 56, leaving them with a +7 goal difference as they push for a top-six finish.
Why it matters for Norwich City
The timing of Fisher’s injury is awkward for Philippe Clement, who has repeatedly stated his intention to keep hold of players capable of starting in the first XI. The Belgian’s stance mirrors the club’s approach to Josh Sargent’s January exit to Toronto, where Norwich City resisted pressure to cash in on their star forward. With the transfer window still open, Clement’s comments serve as a reminder that the club’s hierarchy remains focused on building a promotion-chasing squad rather than selling assets.
Fisher’s absence also highlights the fragility of Norwich City’s attacking options, especially with Mahovo sidelined and Stacey now carrying extra minutes. The club’s recent form-four losses and a draw in their last five matches-underlines the need for consistency if they are to close the gap on the play-off places.
What comes next?
Norwich City return to action on Saturday with a trip to Fulham, where Clement may need to reshuffle his plans once more. The Belgian has already adjusted his rotation once this week, and another enforced change would test the squad’s depth further. Fisher’s recovery timeline will dictate whether he features against the Cottagers or misses more time.
Clement also took aim at the media’s role in fuelling transfer speculation, arguing that slow pre-season periods encourage agents and journalists to fabricate stories. “Everybody is hungry to start the season,” he said. “These off-season days I know there are no games, so there aren’t many interesting stories. A lot of people make up stories to fill the papers.” The Canaries sit ninth on 65 points, 30 adrift of Coventry, with a goal difference of +7 after 46 games.
