Norwich City have been buoyed by the return of Kenny McLean and Pierre Lees-Melou ahead of Newcastle's trip to Carrow Road. The Canaries remain rock bottom of the Premier League and are eight points adrift from safety with just five games left to play.
It's been a difficult season for Dean Smith who hit the ground running at Carrow Road. City have struggled to pick up points and find themselves on the verge of an instant return to the Championship. Nonetheless, they haven't given up the ghost and pushed Manchester United close last weekend.
However, they'll have to face Newcastle without injured trio Andrew Omobamidele (back), Adam Idah (knee) and loanee Ozan Kabak (hamstring) who have all been ruled out for the season. Lukas Rupp is the latest casualty for Dean Smith ahead of the weekend.
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In his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Smith told NorfolkLive : "Kenny [McLean] has got a small fracture in his toe, but he should be okay, he is training today and hopefully he will get through that and play tomorrow.
"Pierre [Lees-Melou] is okay, he just had a bit of cramp at the end at Manchester United so he is fine to play. Josh Sargent will be okay for Aston Villa next week but not this week. He starts training on Monday.
"Lukas Rupp is the only one who has pulled out. He has got pain behind the knee at the moment so he pulled out of training (Thursday). I don't believe it is serious, he has just been having a couple of niggles lately that has kept him out of a few squads."
