Defensive boost for Canaries

4th December 2008

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has been handed a defensive fitness boost ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Ipswich.

City will be without centre-halves John Kennedy, who is banned, and long-term absentee Dejan Stefanovic for the Carrow Road showdown.

But Ryan Bertrand has recovered from a back injury, Elliot Omozusi has shaken off hamstring trouble and Adam Drury is over the muscle strain which forced him off at Sheffield Wednesday last week to bolster Roeder's options at the back.

"It's a huge boost having them fit," Roeder told the club's official website.

"They've been working hard all week and will continue to work hard over the rest of the week. The physio and the lads themselves are all very confident that, come Sunday, they are all going to be fit and available for selection which is very important to us.

"We just have John Kennedy suspended, which is a great shame, and we need all the defenders we have left to be fit."