City boss Paul Lambert may be tempted into changes as he seeks to maintain his record of not losing back-to-back games in a single season.

The Canaries go into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace in midweek, with Lambert determined not to be outdone again by a team struggling near the foot of the table.

'I might freshen it up because the same group have been going week in, week out for weeks on end, so it is up to the other ones to come in,' he said.

Central defender Elliott Ward will go straight back in alongside Leon Barnett after serving a one-game suspension on Tuesday, and with both Palace goals coming as the result of corners, Lambert admits his summer signing's return will be a boost.

'Him and Barnett I think have been rocks at the back,' he said. 'I think the two of them have been absolutely terrific for us. When you lose somebody like Elliott, then there is a massive void in it. Since the Watford game, when he hadn't trained much and I threw him in, he has been excellent. He will be back and hopefully he will be okay. He has been excellent, plus he is very good on the ball and him and Leon do complement each other really well. It's a big plus for us him being back.'

Midfielder Stephen Hughes had surgery on an ankle on Thursday to try and ascertain the cause of an injury that has troubled him for some time - ruling him out for the next two months.

'He has had incredible bad luck since he's been here,' said Lambert.

With centre-halves Michael Nelson (ankle) and Zak Whitbread (calf), left-back Adam Drury (calf) and midfielder Andrew Surman (knee) Lambert faces his first 'injury crisis'.

'There are a few there,' he said. 'Sometimes you get a spate of them, sometimes you get a free run at it and at this minute we've had a few.'

Owain Tudur Jones , one of five players out on loan, has agreed to stay with League One Yeovil for another month. The Welshman has been at Huish Park for two months.

Manager Terry Skiverton said: 'Owain's form has been very good since he joined us and we are delighted that he and Paul Lambert have agreed to extend his loan.'