Liam Gibbs, Onel Hernandez and Anis Slimane fitness updates

Before the Canaries’ lunchtime trip to Derby County tomorrow, Johannes Hoff Thorup gave gloomy reports on the

two.

Gibbs had a hamstring injury during training before their triumph against Watford, thus he was not included in the

team for the match last Saturday. Early this week, follow-up scans showed that City’s worst worries had come true.

“Not very encouraging. I believe we are discussing a 10-week return to play. Sadly, it turned out to be what we had

hoped it wouldn’t be,” the manager of City stated of the 21-year-old.

It’s really bad for both of us and for him. That was the intention, even if he hasn’t been a consistent starter [for him

to challenge]. He is a skilled player with the physical prowess to cover a lot of ground. We must provide him with the

finest support we can since it is the reality.”

Hernandez, who was withdrawn seven minutes into his cameo off the bench in last week’s victory due to a hamstring

complaint, received a similarly dire fitness update from Thorup.

“It remains the same,” stated Thorup. “We are talking about 10 weeks’ time or something like that. It didn’t appear

that serious in the game, and we believed we’d go with minimal risk after seven minutes on the pitch.

“We could see he was running without full power and went with what we thought was low risk, but now it seems it

was very important that we took that decision because it’s a longer one for him.”

Due to serious injuries sustained at the end of the previous season by both Hernandez and Gibbs, there will be a hole

in the squad. City’s head coach is eager to add more competition to the lineup for Championship games.

Anis Ben Slimane, a midfielder for Sheffield United on loan, is back from injury and might start against Derby, if

needed, so Thorup can look forward to one thing.

“He’s rejoined the team. Thorup commented about the Tunisian, “He’s been on the pitch the entire week.”

“We felt that we were still lacking a few players in the midfield, which would have allowed us to make more changes

throughout the game and maintain weekly competition, which is crucial for the lads to maintain their skills. But

that’s the reality. We’ll get by.”