CHRIS LAKEY Peter Grant will be trying desperately to fit square pegs into square holes today as he copes with the loss of more players for the trip to Burnley.

CHRIS LAKEY

Peter Grant will be trying desperately to fit square pegs into square holes today as he copes with the loss of more players for the trip to Burnley.

The Canaries boss lost four players to injury last week and may find himself scratching another two names from his list this afternoon.

Central defender Jason Shackell is his biggest concern after picking up a knock at Leicester on Saturday, while right back Jurgen Colin is ruled out because of family commitments.

With midfielders Mark Fotheringham, Youssef Safri and Simon Lappin definitely out there is no scope to return Andy Hughes to right back - particularly as there is no guarantee that left back Adam Drury won't suffer a recurrence of the dizziness that forced him off in the opening minutes at the weekend.

That would leave the door open for Andrew Cave-Brown, 18, to make his league debut, but the replacement for Shackell to play alongside Dion Dublin - already deputising for Gray Doherty - would be more difficult to find.

“Spillane has played centre back and Hughes can play centre back at a push,” admitted Grant. “One thing is for sure, it won't be Earnie!

“We just have to see how things go. Hopefully Jason will be fit, hopefully Adam will be fit. That's what we would hope for.

“Shacks had a knock at the weekend and we will give him to the last moment.”

Grant confirmed that Doherty is suffering from a hernia problem.

“He's been carrying it for weeks,” said Grant. “He finds it very difficult to strike the ball. We will see how it settles down. I would probably let him go and get it done now, but with the amount of bodies that we have I have to be very careful.

“If I don't need to use him I won't use him. He has responded well to treatment, but whether it is next week or summer he will definitely need an operation.”

Drury suffered the repercussions of painkillers at the weekend, following the loss of three teeth in last Monday's home loss to West Brom

“He had taken tablets before the game for the pain in his mouth and obviously they had an adverse affect on him and he wasn't feeling that great in the warm-up,” said Grant. “We will see how he is, it is a difficult one because he feels alright in himself, it's just that sickness and dizziness he had. He did a little bit yesterday and felt a little better.

“Because of the infection in his mouth you can't do anything about it, but I will give him every chance because of the amount of bodies we have. In an ideal world he won't be involved.”