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Philippe Clement will preview Norwich City's midweek clash against Sheffield United at Colney this lunchtime, 13:30pm. ----------------------------------------------------------------

Dan Grimshaw is not available. He has a lot of blood in his calf. Contact injury in the VAR moment.

Louie Moulden will come into the matchday squad, likely behind Kovacevic.

Pelle Mattsson has trained well. Looks fit to be able to be on the pitch. Won't play a full game - but available for the squad again.

Clement feels Mattsson is a boost for the group - even though it hasn't been at the forefront of the squad's minds. Points to the need for rotation and the importance of having another body back.

Oscar Schwartau and Mo Toure expected to return after the international break. Not earlier. 'It would be a surprise', PC says.

No major issues heading into the game, but a few players still feeling minor issues after Sunday's game. 'Only 48 hours ago', Clement points out.

The other injuries are all longer term - 'so nothing to speak about', with them.

Clement delighted that McLean will be here next season. 'I have always had the clarity, but it wasn't my place to announce to the outside.' Felt McLean was probably the closest to the level of Leeds.

Q: What is required to bridge the gap to teams like Leeds?:

A: 'Physicality. Ruthlessness. If you make a mistake, then you pay more in cash than in the Championship. Leeds dominated the Championship and went to the Premier League, spending again. They were missing one player. We were missing 13. Several players who dominated the league last season for them haven't played much, so there's always going to be a gap. It was not a 90-minute game of 3-0 between the teams. We weren't good enough in the first half for a 30-minute period.'

Clement stresses the importance of getting these players to become the 'overall package' that Leeds and other Premier League sides are. Didn't feel the gap was tactical.

Praise from Clement for Kovacevic, who he feels is making strides in the right direction. He feels the goalkeeper has improved drastically. Credits Declan Rudd and Victor Pereira for the overall improvement in the goalkeeping stable.

Clement likes Mundle-Smith's physicality and verticality. His ability to stretch the game and run behind defences a major plus point. 'He is not yet a top striker who is in the box for every cross and finishing every shot, but that's normal because he's playing as a winger. He has speed and causes problems to opposition defences.'

That shift in position for Mundle-Smith hasn't come from the training pitch, with a lot of matches - but mostly with meetings. Clement praises players like Slimane, who he felt 'coached him' through the Leicester game. Something that the City boss is pleased about.

Interesting from Clement on the academy. Says the first-team will train with more young players on certain days and wants those players to be 'apprentices' who don't show disappointment if they go back to the academy. 'They will get chances and Errol is an example of that.'

On Sheff U: 'They brought several experienced guys in January. They play in a similar style. Took a lot of points and are very ambitious to go the play-offs. Chris is vocal about their ambitions. Investments are made there, if you can get England internationals into your squad. It will be an interesting game for everyone to watch - fans of Norwich, Sheffield United and neutral. It will be two teams who want to win.'

Clement prepared for 'very vertical' and 'direct' style from Sheffield United tomorrow night. But the challenge is to show Norwich's style. Describes Wilder as a 'nice person' and was pleased to be invited in post-match after the Bramall Lane fixture. He does the same. He likes that tradition in the UK, which he saw for the first time in Scotland.

On his ambitions for the final 11 games: 'We focus on results. Also to get players back. We miss a lot of our important players, who would be in the starting XI for a lot of people. Collectively and individually, we want to get better. Each game is a different challenge. Sheffield United are different to Leeds. We want to continue the positive story, with good results but also good football - not just by defending and hoping something falls out of the sky.'

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That brings Philippe Clement's press conference to a close. Onto tomorrow!

Posted By: DrDublin on March 10th 2026 at 13:44:18

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