Forces2Canaries

Huddersfield will be without suspended on-loan striker Nathan Eccleston for the clash against league leaders Norwich.

The Liverpool teenager starts a three-game ban following his dismissal in last week’s defeat at Gillingham, but manager Lee Clark has plenty of options with Gary Roberts, Theo Robinson and Robbie Simpson all desperate to return to the starting line-up.

Clark, who spent two years as assistant to former Norwich boss Glenn Roeder at Carrow Road before taking charge of Town, could also hand a recall to defender Lee Peltier, who has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury.

Otherwise, the Terriers boss has no new injury or suspension worries as his side look to make up lost ground on the top six following back-to-back league defeats.

Norwich have midfielder Darel Russell back in contention for the encounter.

Russell has sat out the last three games through suspension after he was sent off against Southampton last month and now faces a battle to get back into Paul Lambert’s side.

The Canaries won all three games without him to go four points clear at the top and Russell may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Left-back Adam Drury played for an hour for the reserves earlier this week as he recovers from a thigh injury and will travel with the squad.

But centre-half Zak Whitbread (calf) and striker Cody McDonald (thigh) are still out as Lambert’s side look for yet another victory.

Norwich’s relentless march towards automatic promotion from League One continued as they strolled to a 12th win in 14 matches with a 3-0 victory over Yeovil.

Leading scorers Wes Hoolahan, Grant Holt and Chris Martin all hit the target to take their cumulative total of goals up to 60 as Norwich dismissed the challenge of the visitors with a minimum of fuss.

The Canaries took less than two minutes to grab the initiative as poor defending from an Anthony McNamee corner allowed Holt to power a header goalwards.

His effort hit the bar and rebounded kindly for Hoolahan to blast home from point-blank range.

Norwich went on to dominate the remainder of the game and should have doubled their advantage just before half-time when Holt played a one-two with Martin and rounded keeper Alex McCarthy, only to hit the side netting.

But Norwich duly wrapped up the points 20 minutes from the end with another scrappy goal. This time McNamee’s cross from the right was headed high up into the air by Terrell Forbes and when McCarthy missed his punch Holt was on hand to convert from inside the six-yard box.

The win was made safe six minutes later when Holt set up Martin for his 20th goal of the season, with the striker’s shot trickling into the back of the net after being only half-stopped by the keeper.

Stephen Elliott will go straight into the Norwich squad after signing on loan from Preston.

The Republic of Ireland striker is down the pecking order at Deepdale and has joined the Canaries` promotion push for the rest of the season.

He is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench, although manager Paul Lambert could be tempted to rest Chris Martin, who has looked out of sorts in recent games.

Should that be the case then Oli Johnson is likely to start alongside leading goalscorer Grant Holt.

Midfielder Darel Russell completes his three-game suspension while Zak Whitbread (calf) and Adam Drury (thigh) remain sidelined although the latter did return to training this week.

Cody McDonald, who this week had his contract extended until the summer of 2012, is also absent with a thigh strain.

Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton will be hoping to name an unchanged side after back-to-back wins.

Those wins have lifted the Glovers to 12th, nine points clear of fourth-from-bottom Oldham and Skiverton will be keen to keep faith with his players.

He is sweating on the fitness of striker Dean Bowditch (hamstring), who was substituted in the second half of last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over MK Dons as a precaution.

Ryan Mason was introduced from the bench as Bowditch’s replacement and could be handed a start should the former Ipswich man not make it.

On-loan Brighton attacking midfielder Arron Davies is expected to keep his place in midfield after replacing Owain Tudur Jones, who was on loan at Yeovil from the Canaries before returning to Carrow Road.

Norwich City are joining forces with all 72 Football League Clubs in a united week of action to raise awareness and vital funds for Help for Heroes – The Football League’s Official Charity Partner for the 2009-10 season.

Football for Heroes week will take place between 6 – 14 March 6 allowing the whole of The Football League to show its support for the efforts of our Armed Forces.

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The Supporters Group will meet in The Murderers on Timber Hill at 1300 on 6 March 2010, prior to the home match against Yeovil Town.

If you are in the area please come along.

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