Angus Gunn a national team doubt after injury in Norwich’s big win over Hull

Posted Saturday, October 05, 2024 by PA

Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup admitted keeper Angus Gunn was a doubt for Scotland’s forthcoming Nations League matches after picking up a knock in his side’s 4-0 win over Hull in the Championship.

Gunn, who has established himself as Scotland’s number over the past year, was injured during the closing stages of the first half at Carrow Road and did not appear after the interval, with understudy George Long taking his place.

“Angus jumped to take the ball and took a knock in the ribs,” said Thorup. “He was in some discomfort and was unable to come out for the second half.

“It’s too early to say if he will be able to go away with Scotland – we’ll know more once he has had a scan.”

Thorup was delighted with his side’s performance as they made it four wins in six games to maintain their climb up the table after a slow start.

“We are getting better week to week, I think that is clear to see. There are still things to work on – but we are certainly getting there,” he said.

“In the best moments I thought we were really good and played at a high level – we created lots of chances and scored some really good goals, especially the second one.

“We also showed a great energy out there, with players supporting each other in the difficult moments, working hard together to make sure we got the right result.”

Norwich took the game by the scruff of the neck early on by scoring twice in the space of five minutes.

Marcelino Nunez set the ball rolling on 16 minutes by firing home from just outside the area after being set up by Sainz, who then crossed for Josh Sargent to slide home the second.

Sargent hit the post from the penalty spot early in the second period but Norwich shrugged off the setback to score two more to seal an emphatic win.

Substitute Kaide Gordon scored his first goal for Norwich since his loan switch from Liverpool after the Tigers had failed to clear their lines and Sainz provided the icing on the cake by lobbing keeper Ivor Pandur to make it eight for the season.

Hull head coach Tim Walter admitted his side could have no complaints about the result.

“Congratulations to Norwich, they are a good team and deserved to win to win,” he said.

“They were a lot more clinical than us and took advantage of our mistakes while we didn’t take advantage of theirs.

“We lost the ball too often and didn’t win enough of the duels and were punished for it. The lads kept going and showed a good attitude but it is a defeat that we must accept.

“We must keep our heads up and remember that we had won our three previous games and were really good in them. Today we lost 4-0 and that is how it is in football sometimes.”