The Norwich City players walking a disciplinary tightrope

As the Canaries prepare to return to Championship action away at West Brom this weekend and the prospect of further absentees is one that head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup will be hoping to avoid amid an injury crisis. 

City have been without a host of key players, including starting striker Josh Sargent, midfielder Marcelino Nunez, and goalkeeper Angus Gunn, in recent weeks, but they will likely welcome some of those players back in the opening weeks after this pause for international action. 

Given how stretched the squad has been in recent weeks, avoiding further self-imposed absences is essential. 

Thorup currently has four players on four yellow cards. To avoid a potential one-game ban, they need to survive four more league matches against West Brom, Plymouth, Luton, and QPR, after which the threshold for a ban is raised to 10 bookings. 

Kenny McLean 

City's captain has picked up four yellow cards throughout the season so far and is currently in the midst of a four-game ban after his dismissal in the closing stages of the epic 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough last month. 

McLean was shown a straight red card for scything down Boro midfielder Hayden Hackney in the 87th minute before being charged for acting in an 'improper manner' for his use of language towards referee James Bell in the aftermath of his dismissal. 

That ban was compounded with an additional one-game ban after the FA upheld the charge, meaning McLean will also miss City's trip to West Brom next weekend. 

His absence on Saturday at least reduces the window for a potential booking by a game, but City have lost every game while he's been sidelined. 

Callum Doyle 

The Manchester City loanee has been one of three ever-present players under Thorup and has been utilised both as a left-back option and central defender during his spell in Norfolk to date. 

Callum Doyle is on four bookings and at risk of serving a one-game suspension. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) His slick passing and ability in possession have been a weapon for the Canaries, but it has become a risk-and-reward strategy, with opposing teams targeting Doyle's left flank when he inverts. 

City would be well-covered should Doyle get suspended, with Ben Chrisene waiting in the wings for an opportunity. 

Kellen Fisher 

Fisher's willingness for a tackle has earned him real praise during his spell ahead of Jack Stacey at right back, and his consistency, despite only being 20, has been impressive. 

The youngster's aggression has been an important ingredient in his game, but it has also led to three yellow cards in his last four matches.

One of Fisher's qualities is playing with more caution when booked, and Thorup has shown more trust in him than David Wagner when on a caution. Similarly to Doyle, Stacey is waiting in the wings as a potential replacement. 

Marcelino Nunez 

City haven't quite looked the same side without the Chilean in the heart of their midfield. Since he limped out of their 1-1 draw against Stoke, they have struggled to play with the same amount of control in possession. 

His game is tenacious, which means bookings are a given—but like McLean, much will depend on when he is fit enough to return to Championship action. Nunez has been booked in half of his league appearances this season. 

Given Norwich's midfield struggles in both his and McLean's absence, that tightrope will be particularly thin once Nunez returns from his hamstring injury. 

Shane Duffy is on three bookings with the threshold close to being raised. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) City defender Shane Duffy sits behind them with three yellow cards, the last of which picked up in that chaotic 3-2 victory at Derby. 

Below that sits a group of six players on two bookings. Given the proximity to the threshold being raised, it would take quite the run for those to reach the unlucky number and serve a suspension. 

They are: Amankwah Forson, Anis Ben Slimane, Borja Sainz, Jack Stacey, Jose Cordoba and Josh Sargent. 

Following the City's trip to Loftus Road on Saturday, December 7, the requirement for a yellow card suspension will double to 10, and a two-game ban will be enforced.