Norwich City manager Peter Grant has admitted the Canaries are likely to be without three key first team players for the visit of Ipswich Town on Sunday.

Norwich City manager Peter Grant has admitted the Canaries are likely to be without three key first team players for the visit of Ipswich Town on Sunday.

The City boss revealed that Darren Huckerby (back), Dion Dublin (ankle) and Lee Croft (hip) are all struggling to shake off their injuries against Burnley, meaning he is likely to have to turn to the club's youngsters once again.

This means that 16-year-old record breaker Kris Renton is likely to figure against Jim Magilton's side while Bally Smart will retain his place on the bench.

Republic of Ireland Under-18 star Michael Spillane will almost certainly claim a starting berth following good performances against Leicester City and Burnley.

Grant insists he is not daunted by the ever mounting injury list and merely sees it as an opportunity for one of his crop of youngsters to steal the limelight.

“All the boys that came off the other night are very doubtful,” he said. “You've got Hucks, you've got Dion and you've got Crofty. From what I've seen since the Burnley match they are very doubtful but life goes on like that and I see it as an opportunity for another player. There's no use moping about it. We'll be ready for it.

“Sometimes it is an injury to one of your key players that prompts the emergence of somebody else. You only have to look at how Chrissy Martin came to the fore after (Robert) Earnshaw's injury.”

If Grant does have to call upon the youngsters then he is confident they are good enough to seize the opportunity with both hands.

“For our boys now it is their chance,” said Grant. “It is up to them to go and grab it. I made my debut for Celtic against Rangers and my debut for Scotland was against England. You don't get too many better debuts than that.

“That's the way our boys will be looking at it. At the end of the day when your chance comes along then you've got to be ready for it. I would have no qualms about putting any of the boys in.”

Grant will be praying that the likes of Renton and Smart can step up to the mark. The Scot has also recently had to cope with the losses of Simon Lappin (hand), Mark Fotheringham (back), Youssef Safri (hamstring) and Luke Chadwick (thigh).

Meanwhile, Ipswich have also got their own injury problems with Lewis Garvan and Own Garvan doubtful for the derby. Town skipper Jason De Vos is also definitely ruled out after having surgery on Monday.