CHRIS LAKEY Canaries skipper Jason Shackell looks set to miss tomorrow's clash against Cardiff after suffering a “self-inflicted” injury in midweek. Peter Grant is convinced it was after he was accidentally caught by team-mate Julien Brellier

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries skipper Jason Shackell looks set to miss tomorrow's clash against Cardiff after suffering a “self-inflicted” injury in midweek.

Shackell hobbled through a big chunk of Tuesday's Carling Cup win at Rochdale -and manager Peter Grant is convinced it was after he was accidentally caught by team-mate Julien Brellier.

The central defender had already shaken off one knock when he was caught by Brellier in a second-half tackle, causing damage to his right ankle, which required heavy strapping.

“It doesn't look good,” said Grant. “I actually think, believe it or not, that Julien has actually won the tackle, won the ball, and I think he has caught Jason as well.

“I watched the video and that is what it looks like. He landed awkwardly in the first half and took a knock, so it's sod's law.”

Shackell is the worst of a whole bunch of players that are causing more frowns in the City camp, especially as Shackell's natural replacement, Dion Dublin, is also struggling with a variety of bumps and bruises after Tuesday.

Ian Murray and David Strihavka have been ill, and while Grant admits he made a mistake playing Murray at Rochdale, the Czech striker was sent home on Monday and hasn't trained since so is unlikely to feature.

Striker Jamie Cureton was expected to join in training yesterday after missing the trip north with a knock, while fellow absentee, left-back Adam Drury (groin) may also join in after doing some work on Wednesday.

“We will genuinely have to leave it to the last minute,” said Grant. “The travelling didn't help him either, in respect that they were carrying injuries, but there was nothing they could do when you are back here at four in the morning like everybody else, but for these guys it is unbelievable.

“Half of them walked back because they were walking up and down the bus all the time.

“We know it is part of football, we would just like a little run - since last October it has been quite incredible.”

Although his tenure at Carrow Road has been plagued with injury problems, Grant insisted it was bad luck rather than a problem which had its roots in the club's training methods.

“The big thing about it is it is all contact injuries,” he said. “With strains and that you think you are doing something wrong and you start questioning if you are doing training wrong, if you are doing too much intensity. But when it is actually contact injuries it becomes more frustrating.

“You speak to (physio) Neal (Reynolds) and some other clubs and we probably haven't had injuries like that in five or six years, so for us to get three and four of them at the same time is quite incredible.”