Former Norwich City manager Alex Neil has cautioned that Leeds United will have their work cut out for them facing a dynamic Canaries attack during their Championship play-off semi-final clash.
Norwich may be considered underdogs in the battle for play-off glory, finishing sixth in the regular season, but they will take on a Leeds team struggling with form and confidence. Daniel Farke’s squad has only earned four points in their last six matches and head to Carrow Road for their semi-final clash on a low note, having missed out on automatic promotion to Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
The end of the season has been unpredictable for all four remaining teams in contention, with Norwich coming off a defeat to relegated Birmingham City. However, a week to regroup and prepare could level the playing field for the upcoming crucial matches. Despite losing both regular season encounters, Norwich posed a threat to Leeds and Neil, who led the Canaries to promotion through the play-offs in 2015, anticipates a challenging game for all involved.
“My concern for Norwich was, ‘Who is going to be fit?’ I know Ashley Barnes has been struggling, but if Norwich have a fully fit squad to choose from, I think they will gain confidence from that,” Neil shared with the Pink Un. “A lot of their experienced players will be available and have been around the block before. They will present a challenge for Leeds in the match and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
“David Wagner has instilled a solidness in Norwich. They no longer necessarily need to dominate possession to secure victories. Defensively, they have improved and can be more resilient than before. If Norwich have all their key players fit, individuals like Rowe, Sargent, and Sara can make an impact.
“Sargent, in particular, is a standout because he offers a unique blend of skills that Leeds may not have encountered. It will be a fascinating clash as Leeds bring intensity and pace to the game. It promises to be an exciting contest. Let’s be clear – I will be backing Norwich in the play-offs and hoping for their promotion.”
Norwich is expected to be without forward Barnes for the home leg on Sunday, with Hernandez and Gibbs also sidelined for both matches. Despite facing legal issues, Duffy could potentially play, while Fassnacht and Rowe are back in training and may feature.
Leeds will miss Bamford for both legs due to a complicated knee injury, while James is on the mend from an abdominal issue but might not play the full match. Struijk remains out after surgery on a groin problem and will sit out the remainder of the season.
