Norwich City host Burnley at Carrow Road in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash in the race for promotion.
Victory would see Norwich climb to third ahead of the mid-afternoon kick-offs, whilst Burnley can move eight points clear at the top with a win.
Team News
Goalkeeper, Angus Gunn is ruled out for Norwich due to a hip injury suffered during training.
Ben Gibson (personal) will also be absent alongside Jonathan Rowe (ankle), Przemyslaw Placheta (shin) and Sam Byram (unspecified).
Marquinhos could make his first start after joining from Arsenal on loan until end of season.
Burnley could again be without Johann Berg Gudmundsson after he missed their last two matches with a knock.
Manuel Benson (ankle) and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (foot) both remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Norwich will host Burnley at Carrow Road at 12:30pm GMT on Saturday 5 February, live on Sky Sports.
Stat Attack
- Norwich have won just one of their last five league meetings against Burnley (W1, D1, L3).
- Burnley have won just one of their last five league visits to Norwich (W1, D2, L2).
- Each of last two meetings between Norwich and Burnley have finished in 2-0 result, with both teams winning one match apiece.
- Grant Hanley has been yellow carded in each of Norwich’s last three home matches in the Championship.
- Burnley’s Jay Rodriguez, Nathan Tella and Josh Brownhill has been involved in 11 goals this season – Rodriguez & Tella (9 goals and 2 assists), Brownhill (5 goals and 6 assists).
Prediction
Having had a full fortnight to now familarise himself with his squad after three games of progress, I expect David Wagner to have his Norwich team ready to really attack this difficult game after producing four goals in each of their last two matches.
Burnley though are Championship leaders so I do expect them to come out fighting especially after three below-par performances, including a scrappy draw at Ipswich last weekend in the FA Cup which was a surprise because they do have the firepower to cause issues.
From the away perspective, this clash feels like an acid test of whether they have hit a rut despite scraping wins in their last two league games, and can quickly return to winning ways or if they are in for a tricky period as pressure mounts despite their gap to the chasing pack.
Norwich though will face their first proper top-notch test of where they’re under Wagner so I do expect this to be a tactical contest, which could end in a draw.
Prediction: Norwich 1-1 Burnley
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