Norwich City travel to Middlesbrough this weekend as Jack Wilshere takes charge of the Canaries on a caretaker basis.
Norwich City will be looking to cause an upset at the Riverside Stadium this weekend in what will be Jack Wilshere’s first match in charge. He has replaced Johannes Hoff Thorup for NCFC’s final two league games of the campaign.
Wilshere will be bidding to lead the Canaries to their first victory since the end of March. Norwich City have lost their last three Championship games.
A record of 13 wins, 14 draws, and 17 defeats has left City in 14th spot in the Championship table on 53 points, some 13 points off the play-off positions. This is what ultimately cost Thorup his job, despite seemingly being the head of their project.
Finding the back of the net has not been a problem for Norwich City this term, scoring 67 times – a tally only bettered by leaders Leeds United (89) – but they have been defensively poor, conceding 66 goals.
The Canaries have only won four of their 22 Championship games on the road this season. They will be taking on a Boro outfit that boasts 38 points from their 22 home league fixtures during the 2024/25 campaign, the 10th best home record in the league.
Norwich City team news
Wilshere will be helped by the return of Angus Gunn to the squad this weekend. Gunn had missed the last two games due to the birth of his child.
In the two games Norwich City have gone without Gunn, they conceded eight goals. George Long and Vicente Reyes stepped in while he was missing.
Ante Crnac is closing in on a return but this weekend will be too soon for him. He has made his return quicker than expected given his injury, but he will not be risked at Boro.
Matej Jurasek is also still out, but Wilshere has stressed NCFC will be remaining patient with him.
Predicted XI
(4-2-3-1)
Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Cordoba, McLean; Nunez, Wright; Ben Slimane, Gibbs, Sainz; Sargent
Gunn returns to the side to replace young shot-stopper Reyes. He is one of three Norwich City changes that could be made by Wilshere.
Who plays at Elland Road?
The two other changes come in behind Josh Sargent up front. Anis Ben Slimane and Liam Gibbs return to the side.
Ben Slimane replaces Oscar Schwartau over on the right wing while Gibbs comes in to attacking midfield over Emiliano Marcondes.
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