Norwich’s injury update: Forsyth avoids surgery, but club’s player crisis deepens

Norwich City has received encouraging news that midfielder Gabriel Forsyth, who joined the club from Hamilton Academical in June 2023, will not require surgery for his knee injury. Despite this, he is still expected to be out of action for more than a month, having limped off during last Saturday’s match against Cardiff. Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup commented on Forsyth’s condition at a press conference held before Saturday’s Championship fixture against Bristol City. He stated, “Surgery would have meant he was out for five or six months but he’ll still miss five or six weeks because he extended something in his knee and it takes time for that to settle down.” The Norfolk-based club is currently experiencing what its Danish head coach, Thorup, described as the most severe injury crisis of his career. Among the sidelined players is United States international forward Josh Sargent, who will be unavailable for the next two months following surgery for a groin issue. Thorup also provided an update on Brad Hills, stating, “Brad Hills is back in training but Saturday’s game is too early for him – he’s not match fit but he can give us other options after the international break.” Midfielder Onel Hernandez has received a call-up to the Cuba squad for upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches against St Kitts and Nevis; however, Thorup expressed doubt about his participation. Thorup further explained Hernandez’s situation, adding, “Onel Henrnadez was on the grass today (Thursday) but coming back from an eight week injury, we still need to build him up and he’ll need at least a week with the team before we can start thinking about giving him minutes.” He concluded regarding Hernandez, “If we don’t select him for the match on Saturday, which I don’t think we will, it would be unlikely for him to go away but that’s something we would decide in the next couple of days.” Overall, Norwich currently has 11 first-team players unavailable, including goalkeeper Angus Gunn and midfielder Marcelino Nunez.