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🎙️NCFC boss Liam Manning will host his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Wrexham.
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We start with fitness issues. Ben Chrisene is likely to miss eight weeks with a hamstring injury. It doesn't require surgery. "Really unfortunate," says Manning. "He'd started to find a good level." Mathias Kvistgaarden is expected to miss roughly six weeks. No surgery required for him either.

On the injuries: "It's hugely disapppointing. Mathias had scored his first goal and started to look sharper. It's extremely unfortunate, but it happens in football. There'll be an opportunity for someone else to step up." Everyone else has come through fine.

Manning: "I'm desperate to get a win at home, but it doesn't play on my mind. We're pushing for that energy and that belief and that ability to take the initiative. I want that in all games - the plan wasn't for Coventry to go the way it did. I don't want to be a defensive team - I want us to play on the front foot and dominate. The quality wasn't there on Saturday, but the players gave everything for the shirt."

"We're not fully there," adds LM of the connection within his group. "We had six new lads in the line-up on Saturday and we're still having new experiences together. It's really important that you don't get uber negative when you win or lose. It's how you stay stable."

On Wrexham: "You look at their history and the last few years, they've done an incredible job. They've signed some real quality and it'll be difficult, but we're playing at home and we've got to dominate and make the game look how we want. They're well-organised, physical, hard to play against. We'll never take any game lightly at any level. We'll be ready."

Who would play you in a biopic? "Someone going bald I think, I've no idea who," says LM.

Schlupp still not back in training, but Emi Marcondes has trained the last two days. Shane Duffy picked up a calf injury a while ago that's kept him out.

Coventry reflections: "I think the issue was that we never got control of the game. You end up doing a huge amount of running defensively, which wasn't what we needed. You don't want to be doing that, but it showed that the group are willing to give everything."

On why they couldn't control the game: "There are numerous aspects. There are some structural pieces to it. People have to provide the options, then see them, then execute it. You also get caught up in the rhythm of defend, defend, defend. Sometimes you relax when you get the ball when actually you need to work harder to keep it."

On variety tactically: "The balance will get better. It comes back to empowering players to make decisions. We're not going to play short or long all the time. We want the players to make decisions and naturally they'll get some wrong. Our job is to coach them so that they make the right decisions more often than not."

On whether he might shuffle the pack for the starting XI this weekend: "We've lost the two lads, so I have to make changes anyway. We've got depth, we've got options, and it's that opportunity. I want players to step up and grasp it."

On team selection process: "There are numerous factors going into it. Who are the trustworthy ones? Who are the ones who need the support? Who might have to come out? It's the bit that keeps me awake at night. We need all of the lads; they might not be in the team this week but it can change so quickly."

On Jacob Wright's return from suspension: "We've got him back and he's trained the last couple of days. You kind of forget that he's still so young, and I think coming here like they did, there have been so many new factors for him. He had a tough experience with the red card, but he's learned and it'll massively improve him."

"I've not met him too many times," says Manning of Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson. "He's had a terrific career and he's hugely experienced, which is why it doesn't surprise me that he's done so well there. It's not easy even if you throw money at things, and they're signing players to deliver now. It's a tough game, but we should be desperate to get home and perform how we want to."

On Callum Doyle: "Not just him but numerous players, they've spent a lot of money. Big outlays - they've brought in people who are brought in, so that's an indicator of what they're trying to do."

LM: "I'm desperate to win at Carrow Road and make it a difficult place to come. It's showing the right intensity and desire. We're looking forward to it."

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And that's all from Manning today.

Posted By: DrDublin on September 17th 2025 at 14:23:54

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