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Daniel Farke addresses the media ahead of Norwich City's FA Cup third round tie at Preston North End. Updates to come from 1.15pm.

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DF: Patrick Roberts is a great guy and we wish him the best for the future. He wasn't happy with his game time, so it was best to use January to allow this move.

DF: We had lots of competition on the wing. It was good for us that Todd Cantwell stepped up so much. It was positive to have Patrick to improve Todd's end product, but we felt it was best to allow him to move.

DF: We just want to have players who are greedy to work on the miracle of staying in the league. Rumours of our players leaving is a sign of good work, but just rumours.

DF: It's up to us to be awake if there are options to bring players in, so we're in talks. We have a group of good lads and stick together, so the mood is good.

DF: When you want to spend money, there are more options in the summer. In January, if players want to leave a club it's probably because they're not playing so they might not be in their rhythm.

DF: We can't guarantee that we will be in the Premier League next season, so that makes it more difficult. We won't panic buy. It has to make sense for the future.

DF: Permanent deals are better than loans because of the commitment and desire of the player, but sometimes that's not possible.

DF: It could be that their is no business at all. We won't spend money in a stupid way. Perhaps one day we'll be in a position as a club to take more risks, but right now we're not willing to spend unbelievable amounts of money.

DF: I'm a big believer of cup competitions. It's the fifth game in 14 days, so we won't risk any injuries and will use our whole squad, but we want to go into the next round. It's a difficult draw for us.

DF: Preston have the best home record in the Championship so we need to have a strong lineup. We travel to win the game.

DF: They're one of the best pressing sides in the country. The Premier League team in the cup is often the favourite, but I can't see a favourite in this game. The difference is not that big.

DF: We have a chance to go a few games unbeaten. To go into the fourth round of the FA Cup would be good for the confidence.

DF: Christoph Zimmermann was out for nearly five months and had to play four games in ten days, as did Grant Hanley, so we have to be careful with those players. Teemu Pukki is out for tomorrow. He has a little hamstring strain and is struggling with his toe. I can't predict if he'll be available for the Manchester United game. AFC Bournemouth would be more realistic.

DF: We expect Josip Drmic to be back before the Bournemouth game. Dennis Srbeny is out, so Adam Idah is the only natural striker available having played just two Premier League minutes.

DF: To play without any strikers would be tricky. Idah is in the age where game time would be good for him. We won't loan him out before the Preston game, that's for sure.

DF: Ralf Fahrmann should be available again in time for Bournemouth.

DF: Rocky Bushiri and Louis Thompson haven't trained with us, so they won't be travelling with us.

DF: It was the right decision to call them back when they weren't getting much game time.

DF: The FA Cup is traditional and important. It's not realistic for us to win the cup like it is for Liverpool or Man City, but it is possible so we'll try to be successful as we can.

DF: It would be nice to travel to Old Trafford having been unbeaten in three games. A win in the cup can lift the confidence for the season, like when we beat Cardiff in the Carabao Cup, which led to us going on an unbeaten run in the league.

DF: Alex Neil is doing a fantastic job. Preston are growing from year to year without having the biggest financial opportunities. They made good decisions in the transfer market. They have a chance to be in the mix of fighting for promotion.

DF: Preston did lose at home recently, so there is a chance for us. It's not like we're travelling to Anfield Road, but it's a huge task and we have to be at our best.

DF: It's part of my job to speak to the young lads about transfer rumours. I tell them not to pay too much attention to it. You're not a top class player after ten Premier League games. Keep on working.

DF: The young lads are quite humble and down to earth in general, so I'm not overly concerned about rumours distracting them. It's part of the business and they have to learn to handle it.

DF: Adam Idah is a good lad and is physically strong. He's working hard every day and tries to improve, but I don't like to be over the moon about a good two minutes or too strict with a poor performance.

DF: He is a natural born goalscorer and makes great decisions in front of goal, so he has to value that gift. Hard work is always the answer and he has a bright future.

DF: We might have a chance to win tomorrow without VAR! The rules are how they are and we can't change it. The decisions haven't gone in our favour and we have to accept it.

DF: When there's an offside flag, natural instinct was to stop playing, but now we have to carry on to score or avoid conceding.

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That's all from the boss this afternoon! Thank-you for following the live blog.

Posted By: DrDublin, Jan 3, 14:00:34

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