Norwich City continue their pre-season campaign with a friendly against National League North side King's Lynn Town on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, King's Lynn are getting their summer schedule underway after being provided with their league fixtures earlier this week.
Match preview
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On the back of their disappointing end to last season, the pressure is on Norwich head coach David Wagner to instigate a turnaround in fortunes at Carrow Road.
The departure of Teemu Pukki spearheaded an end of an era for the Canaries, yet they arguably require that freshness to give themselves every chance of competing in what will be a higher-standard division during 2023-24.
Wagner has already overseen some notable additions, with Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy and Ashley Barnes all looking astute Championship signings and the acquisition of Borja Sainz having the potential to deliver flair and goals in the final third.
Some of those players made appearances on Tuesday night as Norwich were held to a 1-1 draw at Barnet, the East Anglian outfit having to made do with a share of the spoils despite Jonathan Rowe giving them the lead.
High-profile friendlies with the likes of AZ Alkmaar, Toulouse and Olympiacos are to follow, yet Wagner knows that the hard work needs to be put in during these fixtures to get his team up to speed.
Meanwhile, King's Lynn are back in action for the first time since losing to eventual winners Kidderminster Harriers in the National League North playoffs.
Having only missed out on automatic promotion by two points, King's Lynn capitulated in the semi-finals, losing 4-1, and it is now up to Mark Hughes to galvanise his side ahead of another bid to earn a return to the fifth tier.
While a number of players have left for pastures new, the likes of Jack Smith and Emmanuel Oke have been signed from Stevenage and Margate respectively.
These two teams squared off in a friendly last season, with Norwich running out 2-0 victors on that occasion.
Team News
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While Wagner used two entirely different Norwich XIs for either half against Barnet, he may be more inclined to select a stronger opening lineup on Saturday.
Of the players who featured in the second half versus the Bees, Stacey, Sam McCallum and Marcelino Nunez could be included from the first whistle.
Sainz is in line to make his first appearance off the substitutes' bench after only beginning training at the start of the week.
Meanwhile, the make-up of the King's Lynn side is somewhat of an unknown with this representing their first match of the summer.
Having signed last month, Smith and Oke should be provided with game time, and it would come as no surprise if Hughes included several trialists in his matchday squad.
We say: King's Lynn Town 0-2 Norwich City
King's Lynn will be eager and motivated to make an impression in their first match of pre-season. Nevertheless, with Norwich already having some game time in their legs, we can only predict a win for the Championship side, regardless of what players that they field.
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Darren Plant
