Norwich City talisman, Grant Holt will be missing from the Norwich line-up tomorrow as he serves out a one-match suspension for five accumulated yellow cards.

Norwich City's longer term injury list includes Andrew Surman, unlucky to be injured again, so soon after returning from an injury that has kept him out of contention for much of the season.

Zak Whitbread, another that seems to have been brought in to keep the physiotherapy team busy, sits out another game, along with Steven Smith.

Besides those, Adam drury will also be kept company by Mat Gill and Stephen Hughes.

Paul Lambert will be back in the technical area having complteted his two match touch line ban after being reported for misconduct by Michael Oliver; the same referee that had his red card against Grant Holt rescinded.

It would seem that Simeon Jackson will partner Ton-up Kid, Chris Martin although, with the strike record that City's combinations of strikers, whoever gets the shout will give problems to the Portsmouth defence.

Portsmouth manager, Steve Coterill, will be without Carl Dickinson, on loan from Stoke but serving the last of a three match ban after being sent off in the game against Doncaster, apparently for violent conduct.

Also missing in defence is Hermann Hreidersson, still recovering from an Achilles Heel injury. Of course, the Icelander is best remembered for his time in another blue and white strip, those that rolled over and went back to Suffolk chewing on a 4-1 defeat, Ipswich Town.

Midfielder Haydn Mullins will, it is said, play through the pain of a recent knee injury.

Portsmouth have not won a game at Carrow Road since a 1-0 victory in November, 1987, one out of 15 visits. Their home form against Norwich fairs little better. A total of 54 league matches sees 14 draws, 18 wins to Portsmouth and 22 to City.

Fourth placed Norwich City are 8 points ahead of 15th placed Portsmouth, who have one game in hand at present.

Pompey has a good away following, as City supporters might recall. Little help needed, though, to remind them of the blee and drum that annoys just about everybody apart from the two with the toys.

The last five away games for Portsmouth yields three wins, none drawn and two lost, with five goals for and five against.

Norwich City's last five home games are two wins, two drawn and one lost, with nine goals for and six against.

Confidence in the Norwich City camp is high, as always. Little has been forthcoming from Colney as the players and staff concentrate on preparing for tomorrow's 3pm kick off. Being without the leading goalscorer is obviously no problem. As any Norwich City supporter will agree lately. Al good, all round squad.

Speaking to the Portsmouth website, Cotterill said: “We’re looking forward to it. It should be a good game because they’re a good team. Norwich have a good work ethic for each other. I think Paul Lambert has done an excellent job there.

“Grant Holt has done very well for them, like he did earlier in his career at Shrewsbury, but they’re not a one-man team. What we have to look at is who they replace him with up front.

“I managed to get to Derby last week to watch them win 2-1. Hopefully the information I’ve gathered and have passed on to our players will stand us in good stead.

“Their type of threat depends on what formation they play. They played with a diamond formation to good effect at Derby and also last season, so we’re aware of that.

“It’s a tough game for us but we know if we play well on the day we can cause teams problems as well.”

Clearly, confidence there is high, also, after the success they enjoyed at Swansea's Liberty Stadium where the English visitors were given little hope of success.

Has Portsmouth got what it takes ot deal with a confident Norwich City side and stadium full of confident supporters? Probably not. Look what happened to the last lot in blue and white...

Photo: Action Images

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