Norwich City Slip to 12th as Thorup Defends Team Selection Amid Gordon’s Limited Role.

Norwich City Slip to 12th as Thorup Defends Team Selection Amid Gordon’s Limited Role

Norwich City currently find themselves 12th in the EFL Championship, eight points adrift of the play-off positions. Their form has dipped recently, with the Canaries failing to secure a win in their last three matches.

In their most recent outing, a 2-1 home defeat to Burnley, winger Gordon made a late substitute appearance after being omitted from the previous three matchday squads.

Manager Jess Thorup addressed the situation, explaining his team selection process and emphasizing that Gordon’s recent absences should not be interpreted as a signal of a diminished future role.

“It can change,” Thorup said, when asked about Gordon’s limited involvement. “What I do is select the 20 players that I think are the best ones for the game that we have to win. I will do that every day and every time.”

Thorup elaborated on the demands of the Championship season and the rationale behind his decisions, particularly during a period of congested fixtures.

“If you are out of that team, then it’s a decision from me that I think some of the other guys are better suited for that game week,” he added. “It can change, and it can change in a league where there are so many games. We’re entering a period where we play with only three or four days’ rest in between, sometimes even less than that.”

The manager also urged players outside the starting lineup to maintain high standards in training, regardless of their current status.

“It is always my message to the players who are not in the team to do the same every day,” Thorup explained. “They must keep the same high standards, no matter if they play or not. That’s the only thing they can do.”

Norwich will be looking to reverse their fortunes and close the gap on the play-off places as they navigate the challenges of the winter schedule.