Norwich vs West Brom Preview: Hughton denies Carrow Road turmoil

Posted Sunday, May 12, 2013 by PA

Norwich manager Chris Hughton maintains there has not been "turmoil" at Carrow Road as he prepares his beleaguered squad for a showdown with West Brom which could all but secure their Barclays Premier League status.

Following the last minute 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa and former manager Paul Lambert, the Norfolk club swiftly moved to cancel their end of season awards dinner set for Monday evening in a bid to focus all of their efforts on getting the required points to stay up.

Wigan's subsequent defeat at home to Swansea left the Canaries three points clear of the drop zone heading into the final two matches.

With a trip to Manchester City to round off the campaign, Hughton knows Sunday provides the perfect opportunity to put the situation beyond any reasonable doubt, with the Latics set to head to Champions League chasing Arsenal just 48 hours after their FA Cup final at Wembley.

"Turmoil is certainly the wrong word," said Hughton, who is expected to recall fit-again England goalkeeper John Ruddy after five months out with a thigh injury.

"We know we are playing in a very competitive division, there are clubs around us who are bigger than we are, with bigger budgets, and that is a reflection on how difficult this league is.

"It is certainly not turmoil, it is the ups and downs of the game.

"Is it a time of frustration? Yes, because we don't want to be in the position we are in. Is it an anxious time? Of course it is, but it is only us who can do something about it.

"We need to make sure that by the end of these two games that we have the required points."

Winger Robert Snodgrass has recovered from cramp which saw him substituted in last weekend's late home defeat by Aston Villa.

Centre-half Michael Turner (groin) is, though, still sidelined.

Meanwhile, Steve Clarke will not confirm troublesome striker Peter Odemwingie will leave West Brom after four months of talk but admits: "I've done as much as I can to put up with it."

A long-running saga was reignited this week when the outspoken Nigerian gave an unauthorised interview to a local newspaper re-emphasising his grievances with the club and his desire to leave.

The issue has been the biggest headache of Clarke's first season in charge of Albion, a generally successful campaign which has seen the team in the top half of the Barclays Premier League throughout.

Odemwingie looks destined to move on this summer after relations broke down following his failed bid to force a move to QPR in January and a series of ill-advised Twitter outbursts.

The 31-year-old striker told the Birmingham Mail on Friday he is "90 per cent sure that it's best for me to leave" after underlining his complaints about the club and the supporters who are now on his back.

Clarke has kept Odemwingie involved in the squad despite the ongoing soap opera and said: "I've stuck by him because he's talented.

"He's a talented player and I need as many talented players as I've got in my squad.

"I think over the last four months I've done as much I can to put up with it. The situation will be resolved in the summer and really I hope that's the last time we speak of it."

West Brom captain Chris Brunt could return to action when his side face the Canaries.

The Northern Ireland international has missed three games with a knee injury but may be ready in time to play some part at Carrow Road.

Clarke expects Gabriel Tamas to be available despite needing stitches to a head wound in the defeat by Manchester City in midweek.

Striker Marc-Antoine Fortune serves the final game of a three-match ban but Goran Popov and Steven Reid should be available after injury.