Norwich City manager Philippe Clement has outlined his plans for the upcoming Championship fixture against Birmingham City at Carrow Road. The Canaries are looking to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time this campaign following their recent success at Sheffield United.
Clement addressed the media ahead of the match, confirming a largely fit squad is available. The team currently sits 12th in the Championship table with 6 points from their opening five games, having scored and conceded 8 goals. They are five points behind league leaders Swansea. The manager stated that Saturday’s victory at Sheffield United brought an end to the Canaries’ wait for an away win in the Championship. He wants that momentum carried into the home encounter.
Several players are progressing in their recoveries, though some key figures remain absent. Jovon Makama is closing in on a return to the squad after a lengthy spell out with two separate foot injuries and has resumed team training. Gabe Forsyth has returned to competitive action with the Under-21s after more than 18 months out with a knee issue and will continue his rehabilitation with the development side.
Mirko Topic, out since November with an ACL injury, has resumed running on grass, with a return to team training the next step. However, Lucien Mahovo remains unavailable with an ankle injury until late autumn, and Ali Ahmed is expected to miss the majority of the season with an ACL problem.
Clement made one notable change to his matchday selection for the trip to Bramall Lane, bringing Paris Maghoma back into the fold. For the Birmingham game, Oscar Schwartau was dropped from the 20-man selection. The manager clarified that Oscar Schwartau’s absence was not injury-related, but simply a decision to keep the squad fresh.
If Norwich are to win, they will have to do so without Jhon Solis, Max Bird, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, and Marc Leonard, who were all in the treatment room. The full roster available for selection can be viewed on our squad list.
Chris Davies' Birmingham side travel to Norfolk seeking only their second Championship win of the season. Their only other victory came on the road at Wrexham. They arrive unbeaten in their opening five league outings, though four of those were draws, including a 2-2 result with Wolves in their most recent match.
Carrow Road has not traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Blues. Their last win there ended a wait for victory that stretched all the way back to 2002. Birmingham did, however, beat Norwich twice under Clement's management last season. They currently sit 10th in the table, making this a key early-season fixture. Demarai Gray had been struggling with discomfort in his right shoulder and left the pitch early against Wolves feeling dazed, which could be a factor.
A win against Birmingham would represent a significant step forward in consistency for Clement's team. The Canaries have a mixed record of two wins and three losses from their first five matches, reflected in their mid-table standing. Their next fixture is at home against Birmingham on September 9th, 2026. Fans can follow the team's progress and view the full fixtures schedule on our site. The match offers a chance to close the gap in the standings and build a positive run of form.
