Smith has enjoyed the winter break, on the back of two wins: "Nice to get a break, to get the lads a few days off, and just helped everybody recharge the batteries a little bit."
Normann and Gilmour are back, Rupp and Omobamidele are back on the grass but prob won't be considered for FA Cup action, potentially ahead of the Palace game on Weds though.
It's a big competition, I've said to the players you only play 5 or 6 games to get to the final, so what an opportunity you've got and one we're looking forward to.
On Todd Cantwell… “I gave him a start in my first game. He never recaptured his form so wasn’t in the squad for that reason.” Smith says 'unfortunately Cantwell didn't recapture his form' despite him and his coaching team working hard with him. Smith is putting that down to confidence rather than any kind of attitude issue. Also mentions illness and injuries. Dean Smith states the door is still open for Todd Cantwell if he wanted to return and play for Norwich.
DS update on Tim Krul, light handling work but still looking at another three weeks or so out of action.
Tim is still out. I still think it will be five or six weeks from when the injury occurred. An operation wasn’t required. "Lungi is back doing linear running on the grass, so is healing a lot quicker than expected. DS on Jacob Sorensen, better than first feared, medial ligament injury, but back running on the grass already so won't be out for "too much longer". Good news
First and foremost we want to win and get through in the FA Cup. Against a PL team like Wolves you have to play players that are in form." But also talks about the need to balance a three-game week and players that need mins. Will have a "strong team
DS on PL MOTM nomination for Jan: "I said during December how tough that was with players unavailable. We had players back and some really good performances. West Ham was a tough game v a form team. Great for players and all staff to have back-to-back wins.
DS: “We’ve given them problems to solve during training in the last two weeks and they’ve come up trumps, so it’s been a fruitful period.”
On transfer window… Dean Smith states he knew when he joined the club didn’t have the ability to do business in January. Reinforces he has 4 top quality players returning from injury.
DS asked about PL survival battle: "I don't believe it will be three from four, I believe there will be more in it."
Interesting little line from Smith, they have trained in blocks of three days on and three days off during the break, as he wanted them to rest but didn't necessarily want them jetting off around the world on holidays. Seems sensible, particularly with Covid
