Leeds Vs Norwich Preview

by ncfc_Tooze Fri 18 Feb 2011, 6:48 pm

Team news for Leeds' Championship clash with Norwich at Elland Road on Saturday.

Leeds striker Sanchez Watt is expected to return to the squad.

Watt, who turned 20 on Monday, has missed the last three games due to a hamstring problem but rejoined the squad for full training this week and is in contention.

Right-back Paul Connolly is still struggling with a hamstring strain after missing last week's win at Bristol City, so recent loan signing Eric Lichaj will continue after making his debut at the weekend.

Manager Simon Grayson has no new injury or suspension problems but is unlikely to make any unforced changes, so Davide Somma, Billy Paynter and Ross McCormack are expected to start on the substitutes' bench again.

Leeds, unbeaten in five league games, are chasing a third straight win in a bid to leapfrog Norwich in the top six.

Norwich defender Leon Barnett has been ruled out of the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

The former West Brom man sustained the problem in the 2-1 win over Reading on Saturday and a scan has revealed he requires surgery to leave manager Paul Lambert looking at the loan market for cover, but not in time to face Leeds, so Zak Whitbread will start at Elland Road.

Lambert said: "He will virtually miss the rest of the season, he's got a bad one.

"He has been excellent, it is a blow for us there is no doubt, the way he has performed.

"I will try and bring somebody else in. I just think this time of the season we will try and get somebody with a bit of experience.

"It's really, really tough, you have so many obstacles. People don't want to let their better ones out and it's not for the lack of trying - we have tried and hopefully this one will come off."

Midfielder Andrew Surman made his return from a long-standing knee injury as a substitute last time out and is an option to start.

The Canaries could go second in the table with a win but have not won at Elland Road since August 1993 - when a brace from Ruel Fox set them on the way to a 4-0 win

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3284429,00.html