Norwich City

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Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for their upcoming Nations League matches.

The Canaries captain, 34, played the full 90 minutes of their 4-3 defeat by Bolton Wanderers in the Championship on Sunday but has pulled out of international duty because of injury.

McLean was part of Scotland's World Cup squad and featured in all three of their group games as they were knocked out in the first phase of the competition in the summer.

Scotland face Slovenia twice, Switzerland and North Macedonia in the Nations League during the three-week international break.

We asked for your thoughts after Bolton Wanderers twice came from behind to win 4-3 at Norwich City on Sunday.

Here are some of your comments:

Norwich City fans

Philip: 13 goals conceded in the last three games, just isn't good enough!

Mike: Only one team scored more. West Ham second in the league. Only one team conceded more. Burnley bottom of the league. What does that tell you?

Alan: They are clearly in need of a defence that can actually stop conceding so many goals. Eight in two matches is relegation form. On the current showing they will struggle all season. Their honeymoon period with the new manager is clearly over.

Stephen: Why did Clement not change the defence? Bolton manager out-thought him, they played down their right all game, Cordoba couldn't cope. This one is on Clement. Honeymoon is over.

Keith: Though we have sorted the forward situation out and now have a very strong forward line our defence is still the weakest and we cannot defend against fast big forwards and have a useless goalkeeper who continues to be beaten on his near post. Needs sorting out.

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers fans

Paul: Absolutely worked their socks off and thoroughly deserved a first away win.

Chris: It's hard on the nerves watching Bolton this season. The defence is rather suspect and our inability to shut out the opposition has already cost us points this season. The Norwich defence is thankfully worse than Bolton's though.

Michael: Three points is all that matters. Consolidate first season in the Championship. Brilliant group of players who stick together as a team. Manager deserves credit for working on a shoestring.

Simon: No doubt Bolton have quality going forward - but the lack of positional performance in defence needs fixing - quickly.

Graham: No problem scoring, just very vulnerable at set pieces - five goals already this season.

Image source, Shutterstock

Norwich City manager Philippe Clement spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk and felt his side lost their composure in their crazy 4-3 home loss to Bolton Wanderers.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Norwich City go into this game with only Burnley (16) having conceded more than their 13 goals in the Championship so far this season, while only four sides have scored more than the Canaries total of 13.

Bolton visit Carrow Road on Sunday (13:30 BST) as one of seven sides yet to win away in the Championship.

• Norwich City have won six of their past eight league games against Bolton Wanderers (D1 L1), with this their first since doing the double over the Trotters in 2018-19.

• Bolton have lost four of their past five league visits to Norwich (D1) since a 2-0 victory in November 2000 under Sam Allardyce.

• Norwich have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 14 league games; in England's top four tiers, only Preston (22), Chelsea (20), and Burnley (15) are on longer ongoing runs.

• Bolton could lose three consecutive away league games for the first time since January 2022 (run of 7).

• Since his league debut in February, only Cyle Larin (15) has scored more goals in the Championship than Norwich's Mohamed Toure (13), while no player in that time has more goal involvements (16).

Norwich City boss Philippe Clement tells BBC Radio Norfolk his players "have to believe" they can beat Premier League side Manchester City at the Etihad on Thursday night.

The two sides meet in round three of the Carabao Cup, with the top-flight hosts the holders, having won the competition seven times in the past 13 years.

Premier League Brighton await in round four after coming from behind to knock Manchester United out on Wednesday.

The Canaries are 14th in the Championship with nine points from a possible 21, and welcome 20th placed Bolton on Sunday.

Clement concedes he has to also have one eye on that game.

"The league stays the bread and butter of this club, and for the future of this club also," he said.

"But neither do I want to give away anything. I want a winning mentality, and it's not about not believing in games if you play one of the best teams in the world."

Listen to Clement's pre-match interview with BBC Radio Norfolk

The latest episode of BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage podcast is out now.

Phil Daley and Chris Goreham are joined by ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha and former Canaries midfielder Rossi Jarvis to preview Thursday's Carabao Cup third round tie at Etihad Stadium (19:30 BST).

The pair both played when the two sides last met in the competition in 2007, with City winning 1-0 with a 90th-minute strike from Georgios Samaras.

Does Onuoha think Norwich can win? "You would assume not, but then again this is football.

"What I like about Norwich this season is the amount of goals they've been scoring, so they're always going to be in with a chance - but I think it's going to be very difficult.

"Historically with City when they have played a team from outside their division they have made some changes, and things have tended to go well, especially at home.

"But that was under Pep [Guardiola]. In terms of [Enzo] Maresca I really don't know what he's going to do. For all we know, maybe he'll keep it really strong and ensure they make it through to the next round with a strong performance."

Jarvis, on the previous meeting 19 years ago: "Real exciting times. It was just when City started getting the money behind them. There were a few injuries and suspensions at the time, so me and Mickey (Spillane) started that game, and we actually did pretty well.

"I was only 18 at the time, and we went under the stadium with all those ridiculous cars there, then lining up against probably eight international players in their starting XI.

"We probably found that game easier than the Championship because the top players give you that extra yard of space as they respect you as players, and I didn't have any kind of nerves.

"As underdogs you've got nothing to lose, so [you] go into the game playing your normal football, give it everything and cup football is brilliant as it's all on the day."

The episode also reflects on the dramatic 4-3 defeat at Middlesbrough in the Championship.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Middlesbrough's 4-3 win over Norwich City in a seven-goal thriller on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Middlesbrough fans

Noel: Winning is important - but playing for the badge and the club with heart and until the last minute is number one for Boro fans and this team under Kim Hellberg are doing it. Credit to Middlesbrough FC from the top down and back up. UTB.

Chris: Very exciting game with both sides full of talent. Cozier-Duberry fantastic. Worrisome defence for Boro at times

David: Boro are unable to defend. We are going to need to score three or four goals every match to compensate.

Neil: Massive psychological win, great determination to never give up and grab an injury time winner.

NDB Boro: That was a hard watch as a Boro fan, I thought we were in control but I have to say Norwich were excellent too going forward and looked threatening every time. Phillips did well when he came on and to score the winner put the cherry on the cake! Well done Boro and Norwich, a great watch for the neutral but not much fun at times as a Boro fan!

Image source, PA Media

Norwich fans

Big Vince: Same old Norwich. Can't defend. To score three goals away and come back home empty handed is nothing short of criminal. I thought last season Clement had a better balance between attacking and defending, but this season he has gone gung-ho which has led to 4 defeats already. Not good enough. Need to defend the box a lot better.

Duncan: Same old.

Paul: Playing out from the back has always cost Norwich along with next to no marking in the penalty area. But this particular back four just can't gel and promotion will never be possible while we play like amateurs defending.

Fred: Don't mind losing games 4-3. This is what football is all about. I'd take it over a 0-0 every time, even on the losing side.

William: Pre-season optimism of Norwich doing well is fading fast. Four defeats now in seven league matches and yet to keep a clean sheet. Hope Man City rest Haaland this coming Thursday.

Norwich City midfielder Jacob Wright says the squad will take "big learnings" from Saturday's heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at promotion rivals Middlesbrough.

Wright scored his first goal for the club as the Canaries came from 3-1 down to draw level with Boro before the home side won it 4-3 in stoppage time.

Norwich have won three and lost four of their opening seven matches, and sit 12th in the Championship on nine points.

"There are big learnings to take from it", Wright told BBC Radio Norfolk. "The way we came back in the second half is credit to the boys, the heart and personality we showed to get back in the game.

"If we can take that for the rest of the season throughout the full game not just half a game, its only going to be good for us.

"We're a young squad, but there's plenty of heart in this dressing-room, and plenty of togetherness."

Wright arrived on loan from Manchester City in February 2025, making 15 appearances, before signing a permanent deal last summer for £2.3m.

The 20-year-old been used as a substitute in the Championship this season, with his one start coming in their League Cup win at Cardiff City.

"Its part of modern football to have big squads, using plenty of rotation to keep the freshness and get the output and intensity that we want to play at," he added.

"The boys are all together and will continue to push each other every single day because we are fighting each other for places in the starting eleven and the squad."

The former England youth international will return to his former club at Etihad Stadium in Thursday's EFL Cup third round tie (19:30 BST).

"It will be good to be go back. Its where I came through, and learnt the majority of what I have today," Wright said.

"But I'm there for Norwich, to do business, and hopefully come way with a win. Its going to be a tough game, there's no denying that - but you have to work hard in every match."

Norwich City head coach Kim Hellberg spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk after the Canaries' heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at Middlesbrough in which they came from 3-1 to equalise only to lose to defender Ashley Phillips' injury-time winner.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Middlesbrough are going for a third successive home win to start the Championship season when they host Norwich City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Canaries make the journey to Teesside on a two-game winning streak.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in nine league meetings with Norwich (W6 D3), after losing five in a row to the Canaries.

• Norwich have lost three of their past four Championship visits to Middlesbrough (D1), failing to score in their last two.

• Middlesbrough have won each of their past four home league games, their longest run since March 2023, when they won seven on the bounce.

• No side has won more Championship games in 2026 than Norwich City (17, level with Southampton).

• No player has scored more goals in the Championship this season than Will Lankshear (five, level with Cyle Larin).

Norwich City picked up their second home win of the Championship season by beating Birmingham City 2-1 at Carrow Road on Wednesday evening.

It stretches Blues' winless run to three games.

Here is what the supporters of both sides made of the match.

Norwich fans:

Andy: A hard-fought win, with lots of good chances created despite squad rotation ahead of the Middlesbrough and Manchester City matches.

Craig: Very scrappy performance, too many misplaced passes when not under pressure. Two good goals but not enough quality for automatic promotion. Jovon Makama had an instant impact and could lift this team into play-off contention. But to sustain a promotion push we need a midfield general who commands the ball, neither Kenny McLean or Pelle Mattson did that.

Patrick: Clement has us going in the right direction after some wasted years.

Giles: Norwich are starting to click, apparently we're 'managing minutes' with Jack Stacey coming in for Kellen Fisher. I'd always choose Fisher over Stacey but in Clement we trust.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham fans:

Chido: No attacking midfield. Square and back from Paik Seung-Ho and Tomoki Iwata. Norwich were very poor - two shots and two goals from defensive errors. We can't continue to not take our chances.

Steve: One league win so far. Chris Davies out, Eddie Howe in.

Bob: This league is hard enough without officials making mistakes that cost teams points. There should have been a sending off plus a goal which was clearly onside.

Alan Why does Chris Davies keep playing Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-Ho? We have needed creative midfield players for two seasons.

John: Birmingham believing their own hype. Norwich were well below par but still more decisive than Blues.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City moved up to ninth place in the Championship with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City on Wednesday evening.

The Canaries recorded their second home win of the season thanks to goals from Oscar Schwartau and Papa Diallo.

Norwich manager Philippe Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"We wanted the roar and the crowd gave that to the team.

"It was a good interaction between all of us.

"We knew this was a tough game. Birmingham hadn't lost and had won the most head duels this season. They are very direct.

"We defended set pieces really well and had the best chances. We scored two really good goals and could have scored more.

"Their goalkeeper made really good saves in the second half. A well-deserved victory with a lot of positives."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Opta

Something has to give as Norwich City welcome Birmingham City to Carrow Road on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

The Canaries have won two and lost three of their opening five games to lie a point behind Blues, who are one of just two unbeaten teams in the Championship, along with leaders Swansea.

Chris Davies' men have drawn four of their five matches, though their only win came in their last away game at Wrexham.

• Norwich have lost each of their past three league games against Birmingham City, never before losing four in a row to them.

• After their 2-1 win in this exact fixture last season, Birmingham could win back-to-back league visits to Norwich for the very first time, with this their 35th trip.

• Norwich have won each of their past three home league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), last winning four in a row in December 2016.

• Birmingham have won just one of their past eight away league games (D3 L4), though it was a 2-1 victory at Wrexham in their last game on the road.

• Marvin Ducksch scored three goals in Birmingham's two Championship games against Norwich City last season, his most against any side in 2025-26.