Norwich welcome back Steven Naismith for Sunderland clash

Posted Wednesday, August 16, 2017 by PA

Norwich will have Scotland forward Steven Naismith available again following suspension for the visit of Sunderland on Sunday.

Naismith has now served out a three-match ban following his red card in the Canaries' 3-3 draw against Leeds at the end of last season.

Cameron Jerome could lead the attack again having scored in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Swindon, with Portuguese frontman Nelson Oliveira having sat out after his late equaliser when coming off the bench in the Championship opener at Fulham.

Defender Timm Klose has been carrying a leg muscle problem while German midfielder Marco Stiepermann is pressing for a debut following his transfer from Bochum, but Alex Pritchard needs an operation on ankle ligament damage and is expected to be out for up to three months.

Lee Cattermole is likely to return to the Sunderland squad for Sunday's Sky Bet Championship trip to Norwich.

The midfielder was left out, along with full-back Billy Jones, for Thursday night's Carabao Cup first round tie at Bury, with manager Simon Grayson later revealing both were rested with the weekend in mind.

Defender Lamine Kone was an unused substitute and striker James Vaughan played only 45 minutes as Grayson gave John O'Shea, Adam Matthews, Darron Gibson and Wahbi Khazri their chance.

Keeper Robin Ruiter, a summer signing from Utrecht, is yet to make his debut with Jason Steele having started the first two games of the campaign, while full-back Bryan Oviedo (calf), striker Josh Maja (knee) and long-term absentees Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore (both knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.