Norwich team news: Welbeck could return; Pedro, Dunk, Wieffer and Hinshelwood out

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Charlie Hanson

2025-01-09T10:20+00:00

Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck could both miss Saturday's game at Norwich. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion begin their Emirates FA Cup campaign on Saturday as they head to Norwich City in the third round, kick off 3pm.

Team news

Danny Welbeck has made 14 Premier League appearances so far this campaign. 📷 by James Boardman.

Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Danny Welbeck could return to the squad on Saturday, although he will be without Jack Hinshelwood, Lewis Dunk, Joao Pedro and Mats Wieffer.

"With Danny [Welbeck] we have to see tomorrow if he will be part of the group. For Jack [Hinshelwood] it will be too early. Mats Wieffer it’s too early. Joao Pedro (twisted ankle) will miss this game. Lewis Dunk will miss the game.

"So we have some issues, but I'm sure that the squad on the pitch will be very competitive and strong enough to win this game."

The head coach added that the game comes too soon for Diego Gomez to be involved.

Fabian's thoughts

On Norwich, "This will be a tough game, Norwich are a great opponent. They play really well. They try to play out and build up from the back, they have good individual players. So it's not a sure thing we go there and win this game. It will be hard work. We can't underestimate the opponent and we have to work, then hopefully we have a chance to go to the next round."

On the Canaries' specific threats, "They try to build up from the back with Callum Doyle and Kenny McLean as sixes, both are very good football players. They have clear positioning in the build up, plus in the offensive line they have Borja Sainz. He's a very good one-against-one player. He makes a difference, especially in the Championship."

Match facts

This is the first FA Cup meeting between Norwich and Albion since January 2003, with the Canaries winning a third round tie 3-1 at Carrow Road.

Brighton are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Norwich in all competitions (W2 D2), keeping a clean sheet in each match. The last two meetings between the sides in the 2021-22 Premier League both finished 0-0.

When outside the top-flight themselves, Norwich are winless in their last 16 FA Cup matches against top tier opponents (D4 L12), since a 1-0 win at Stoke City in January 1982.

Brighton have progressed from seven of their last eight FA Cup third-round ties, failing only against Sheffield Wednesday in 2019-20 in this run.

João Pedro has scored six goals in his last three FA Cup appearances, with all of these strikes coming away from home. He netted a hat-trick in his last such match against Sheffield United last season.

Match officials