Norwich City manager Philippe Clement is preparing his side for a tough Championship test against Stoke City while managing a gradually improving injury situation. The Canaries head into the midweek fixture looking to build on their 4-1 victory over Burnley, a result that provided a welcome boost after a challenging start to the season which sees them 20th in the table with three points from four games.
Clement's squad, which has scored five goals but conceded seven, faces a Stoke team that has yet to earn a point under Mark Robins. Speaking to the Pinkun, Clement acknowledged the challenge but stressed his focus remains on Norwich's own performance. "We are not the only ones with the difficult programme," he said, referencing Stoke's own tough opening fixtures against Swansea, Southampton, and Wolves.
Paris Maghoma trained on Monday after a calf issue, and a late decision will be made on his inclusion in the match night squad. Clement reported no fresh fitness concerns from the Burnley match, a positive sign for a group that has been hit by absences. The manager confirmed that fit-again striker Jovon Makama is still too early for selection, joining Ali Ahmed, Lucien Mahovo, and Mirko Topić on the sidelines.
Clement is encouraged by the recovery progress. Players like Darlin Yongwa, Anthony Masaba, and Andre Brooks are all improving. Ante Crnac also showed positive signs after coming on against Cardiff, contributing a goal and performing well in both defensive and offensive phases. The club is implementing improvements aimed at keeping players fitter, stronger, and faster to prevent injuries, a necessity after last season's situation was deemed unsustainable for long-term success.
Despite Stoke's pointless start, Clement expects a significant challenge at the bet365 Stadium. He highlighted their clear playing style and the quality within their squad, which benefited from a sizeable summer transfer outlay. The manager specifically named wingers Sorba Thomas and Million Manhoef, plus striker Sam Gallagher, as dangerous attacking threats. He described Stoke as a good team on the ball with quality options across their wingers, strikers, midfield, and defense.
Clement believes Stoke will take more points in the coming months. For his own team, the key is to replicate the aspects of their Burnley performance that served as a reference point. He pointed to the comprehensive display of organization, discipline, front-foot defending, effective transitions, and ruthless finishing in that match as the standard to meet.
The manager completely dismissed the notion that a team needs a strong home reputation to pick up points on the road. "I totally don't agree with those things," Clement stated. He emphasized that the objective is always to try and secure three points, regardless of the venue. Norwich has already proven they can win away games this season, and Clement wants that mentality to continue. He stressed the need for his team to be alert and ready to seize opportunities to get points in away fixtures.
Clement also reflected on the narrow 1-0 defeat to West Brom, noting that the performance was good with front-foot football and chance creation. He felt the finishing wasn't poor, but small details like a key save or a defensive mistake decided the outcome. Against Burnley, he observed that the opposition had momentum in the first half but failed to create major chances, allowing Norwich to grow into the game and capitalize clinically.
Looking beyond the Stoke game, Norwich's next assignment is an away trip to face Sheffield United, who are currently 9th, on September 5th. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on the club's fixtures and standings pages, while the latest availability updates are always listed on the injuries section.
