Norwich City without key man ahead of Birmingham City trip

Teenage midfielder Liam Gibbs is having something of a breakthrough season with the Canaries, featuring in five of their six Championship matches so far this campaign.

However, the 19-year-old picked up an ankle injury in the weekend win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and won’t be making the journey to St Andrews.

“Liam Gibbs is obviously out after his injury on Saturday,” said Smith . “He had it scanned last night [Sunday].

“The images have come back to show that there is an injury. I think he’s going to see the specialist. On first look, it isn’t as bad as first feared, so that’s good news, but obviously, there is an injury there.

“I thought it was just the ball hitting his ankle in the air but I’ve seen it back and he has actually gone over it. It doesn’t look nice. Let’s hope he is back sooner rather than later.”

Blues’ set-piece woes

Blues boss John Eustace has a job trying to rally his troops again after another defeat at the weekend, this time to Rotherham United.

There hasn’t been a win to celebrate since the second weekend of the season.

“I am obviously very disappointed,” Eustace had said following a 1-0 reverse to the Millers.

“I thought first 25 minutes we started well, without the ball we frustrated them and saw out their pressure. Coming here was always going to be a tough game, there was gonna be a lot of pressure but first 25 minutes we dealt with them well.

“Then it was really, really disappointing to concede from a set-piece. We have been working hard on set-pieces for seven weeks in pre-season and it was a lack of concentration - maybe the lads thought they had seen it through.

“I was really disappointed to concede from a corner and then the second-half to concede from the third phase of a corner. Those goals can be stopped.”

Blues have already played Norwich this season in the Carabao Cup, drawing 2-2 in normal time at Carrow Road before being knocked out on penalties.