City dealt double blow as Fisher and Makama set for weeks out

Philippe Clement has been dealt a major double injury blow, with Kellen Fisher and Jovon Makama both set to miss the start of the new Championship campaign.

The City chief confirmed after the St Gallen test that Makama was unavailable after taking a knock to his foot during the behind-closed-doors friendly against Colchester at Colney, before explaining on Wednesday evening that Fisher missed the Wimbledon friendly due to an ankle injury sustained in training.

It is understood Fisher will be sidelined for six weeks, while Makama is expected to miss four weeks.

The news comes after widespread speculation on social media following the goalless draw with the Wombles in south-west London, with Makama pictured wearing a protective boot and Fisher's omission coming less than 24 hours after reports of Premier League interest from Hull City.

It's worth stressing that, unlike last season's run of muscular and soft-tissue injuries, both setbacks stemmed from contact incidents.

Jovon Makama took a knock to the foot in City's pre-season clash with Colchester (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Lucien Mahovo's injury also falls into that category, with Clement confirming last week that the full-back had suffered ankle ligament damage following what he described as 'unlucky contact' with a Colchester defender, ruling him out for three months.

Despite a gruelling pre-season schedule featuring multiple double training sessions, Errol Mundle-Smith is the only player to have missed friendlies because of a muscle-related issue, with the attacker sidelined by a minor hamstring problem.

That comes after a summer reshuffle of Norwich's medical and sports science departments, with the appointments of Dr Paul Ford, Andrew Proctor and Dr Pippa Bennett aimed at reducing non-contact absences.

For Fisher, it represents the first significant lay-off of his Canaries career, having featured 102 times over the past three seasons since his arrival from Bromley.

The timing is particularly cruel for Makama, who had only just returned to action earlier this month after spending five months out with the broken foot he sustained during February's 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road.

Norwich are not expected to seek short-term reinforcements in the transfer market at this stage. Jack Stacey can deputise at right-back, while Mathias Kvistgaarden has impressed during pre-season and will soon be joined in attack by the returning Mo Toure.

As previously reported, the Canaries' remaining transfer priority is a new left-back, with Ben Knapper and his recruitment team assessing multiple options in that position.