Injuries and COVID-19 complications have left Norwich City in a difficult position ahead of their opening Premier League fixture with Liverpool next Saturday.
Daniel Farke's side will take on the Reds on Carrow Road, but could be without star man Todd Cantwell.
The English midfielder missed the Canaries' pre-season defeat to Newcastle United yesterday and the Norwich boss did little to ease fears that the 23-year-old could miss his side's opening match of the season.
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"He rolled his ankle; he has a strain in his ankle ligament. But we scanned it this morning, and it is not too bad. We have to wait how it develops," said Farke.
Alongside Emi Buendia and Teemu Pukki, Cantwell was another player who shone for Norwich during their disappointing 2019/20 top-flight campaign.
The talented midfielder scored six Premier League goals and registered two assists, despite failing to prevent his side from beating the drop.
Norwich responded to their relegation in heroic style last term, earning 97 points to win the Championship in style.
But life back in the top tier is already proving challenging.
In addition to the Cantwell setback, the Canaries have been dealing with a COVID outbreak within the squad.
This has resulted in Norwich's pre-season preparations becoming disrupted and ensured that friendlies with Sheffield United and Coventry City had to be cancelled.
Six players were absent in yesterday's defeat to Newcastle due to being in isolation, with Grant Hanley, Onel Hernandez, Jordan Hugill, Przemyslaw Placheta, Bali Mumba and Milot Rashica all missing out.
