Philippe Clement on Norwich City squad unity and Middlesbrough challenge

Norwich City manager Philippe Clement is confident his squad is united and prepared for the Championship clash with Middlesbrough, believing their collective trust will help them compete for promotion.

Philippe Clement says his Norwich City squad is fully united behind his management as they prepare for the Championship's relentless schedule. The manager believes the collective trust and willingness to do the ugly work will be key to their promotion ambitions.

Clement pointed to the immediate aftermath of last week's 2-1 win over Birmingham as proof of the group's togetherness. "After the game, when the team made the tour around the stadium, all the players were there," he said. That included senior figures like Mo Toure and Anis Ben Slimane, who were surprise omissions from the matchday squad for the victories over Birmingham and Sheffield United. "They know I love them all," Clement added. "Although, if you don’t play, you want to play, and you can be not happy about it."

Rotation for the long haul

The manager's rotation policy is designed to manage a demanding fixtures list and limit injuries. He views the midweek win over Birmingham as a significant step forward in the squad's development. Clement acknowledged he dislikes long kicks and constant duels but accepts they are necessary to gain points in this division. He praised his players for showing the ability to win those second balls and use combination play to escape pressing situations.

Norwich head into this period sitting 14th in the Championship standings with nine points from seven games. Their recent form shows three wins and two losses from the last five, a run that includes a thrilling but ultimately disappointing 4-3 defeat at Middlesbrough just days ago. Mo Toure, the club's top scorer with four goals this season, opened the scoring in that match before a Sebastian Berhalter double helped Boro edge a seven-goal thriller. The team's primary objective remains clear: to secure promotion, a goal that will require handling a packed schedule where every minute and every point is key, starting with the challenge this weekend before a home fixture against Bolton next.

Respect for the opposition

Clement rates Saturday's opponents as one of the big favourites for promotion, noting they reached the play-off final last season under Kim Hellberg. He respects the variation and clear structure Hellberg has implemented, mentioning that striker Will Lankshear gives them a different attacking profile. For Norwich, summer recruits Andre Brooks and Anthony Musaba have already shown their quality, adding to the options within Clement's squad.

On the fitness front, Clement indicated there are no fresh issues following the Birmingham game. Ali Ahmed remains out long-term, while Lucien Mahovo and Mirko Topic continue their comebacks from injury, with the latest updates available on our injuries page. With the transfer window closed, the manager stressed this is the group that will fight together until at least January. The immediate focus is on continuing their momentum.