Last Updated: Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:45
Jonny Howson could make his Norwich debut at Stoke on Saturday, but James Vaughan will miss out due to a slight fitness setback.
Canaries chief Paul Lambert had mixed news for reporters at his Friday morning press conference as the side prepare to make the trip to the Britannia Stadium this weekend looking to bounce back from last Sunday's last-gasp defeat against Manchester United.
Howson, who was signed from Leeds in the January transfer window, has recovered from the injury he was carrying when he joined and played the full 90 minutes for the reserves this week against Wolves. And Lambert will decide on Saturday if he will start the game or have to settle for a place on the bench.
Fellow new boy Ryan Bennett linked up with his new team-mates for the first time on Thursday after spending this week with England's Under-21s and will also travel to Stoke, but he is unlikely to start.
Defender Dani Ayala is back in training following a hamstring injury but the game will come too soon for him, while left back Marc Tierney is now sidelined with a knee injury having fully recovered from the groin problem that had sidelined him since mid-December.
Lambert also admitted that Vaughan faces another short stint on the sidelines due to a setback with his fitness, although the good news is that it's not related to the knee injury which has kept him sidelined for a large part of this season.
Steve Morison and Andrew Crofts returned unscathed on Thursday after featuring for Wales in the Gary Speed memorial match against Costa Rica, while Russell Martin and Simeon Jackson are set to return from international duty later on Friday.
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