Bristol City and Gerhard Struber travel to Carrow Road this weekend to face former boss Liam Manning’s Norwich City sideNorwich City defender Jose Cordoba in action against West Brom(Image: Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Norwich City have been dealt an injury blow before hosting Bristol City this weekend, with Jose Cordoba potentially sidelined for Saturday’s game against the Robins after picking up an issue whilst away on international duty.

The Canaries have had a difficult start to the season and life under former City boss Liam Manning, winning two of their first nine Championship matches to sit 19th in the table over the October international break, just two points clear of Oxford United and the relegation zone.

Particularly at Carrow Road, Norwich have been unable to truly get up and running this term. The Canaries have lost each of their first four league games at home and exited the Carabao Cup in the second round with a 3-0 home defeat to fellow second tier side Southampton.

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Understandably, that poor start to the season has left supporters frustrated, with much of that feeling directed the way of Manning. But given that the fact the head coach opted to leave Ashton Gate a matter of weeks after leading the Reds into their first play-off campaign in 17 years, Saturday’s game is expected to be an interesting contest.

It looks likely, however, that the Canaries will be without Cordoba, who is set to miss the Robins’ visit to Carrow Road after pulling out of the Panama squad during the October international break with a hamstring injury, according to the Pink Un.

Cordoba started Panama’s World Cup qualifying clash against El Salvador on Saturday, but was forced off after just 12 minutes as Thomas Christiansen’s side ran out 1-0 winners. Despite initial suggestions that the defender had suffered a thigh injury, reports from Panama suggest the 24-year-old has withdrawn from the squad with a hamstring issue and will miss Wednesday’s clash with Suriname.

The defender is expected to return to England in the coming days for a full assessment on the issue ahead of Saturday’s clash with City, with former Robins boss Manning expected to provide an injury update in his pre-match press conference this week.

Heading into the international break, Cordoba started and played the full 90 minutes, as Norwich were beaten by both West Brom and local rivals Ipswich Town.

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The Canaries lost the East Anglian derby for the first time in 16 years last time out as goals from Cedric Kipre, Jaden Philogene-Bidance, and Jack Clarke saw Kieran McKenna’s side run out 3-1 winners at Portman Road, just days after they drew 1-1 with the Reds at Ashton Gate.

Should the 24-year-old be ruled out, it is unclear who will slot in alongside Harry Darling in Norwich’s backline. Jakov Medic was the man replaced by Cordoba against both the Baggies and the Tractor Boys, youngster Ruairi McConville has been in and around the first-team squad, while Shane Duffy, who is yet to feature under Manning, did travel with the side for the trip to Portman Road, having recently been sidelined by a calf injury.

Like the Canaries, City, and Gerhard Struber have their own injury issues to contend with. The Robins boss is expected to provide an update in his pre-match press conference this week; however, he is likely to be without Jason Knight, Max Bird, Joe Williams, and Cam Pring as they continue their respective recoveries.

There is a chance, however, that Max O’Leary could feature in a first-team squad for the first time under the Austrian, after the goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes for the Robins’ Under-21s prior to the international break.

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