Norwich City v Sunderland: Bassong backed to stand strong, if Klose misses out for Canaries

Norwich City winger Matt Jarvis is backing Sebastien Bassong to fill a big gap '“ if key centre-back Timm Klose misses tomorrow's Premier League crunch clash with Sunderland.
Sebastien Bassong gets the better of Steven Fletcher in Norwich's 3-1 win at Sunderland earlier this seasonSebastien Bassong gets the better of Steven Fletcher in Norwich's 3-1 win at Sunderland earlier this season
Sebastien Bassong gets the better of Steven Fletcher in Norwich's 3-1 win at Sunderland earlier this season

Klose, who has made a big impression since signing in January, is a major doubt having jarred a knee in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace

The Swiss 27-year-old is understood to have not trained all week, having left Selhurst Park on crutches.

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That is likely to mean Bassong gets his chance to repeat his goalscoring feat when the Canaries beat Sunderland 2-1 at Carrow Road back in December, 2012.

Middlesbrough-born Jarvis told the Norwich Evening News: “I didn’t think his departure affected us particularly on Saturday (at Palace).

“Timm has been exceptional for us over the last few weeks – but Sebastien Bassong has pretty much played the whole season anyway, so he’s more than capable of coming in.

“Plus, I thought he did very well when he came in during the first half on Saturday.”

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Tomorrow’s showdown promises to be pivotal in the battle for survival, with fourth-bottom Norwich four points clear of Sunderland, in third-bottom spot, though the Wearsiders have a game in hand.

“We’ve had bad results this season and we’ve bounced back extremely well, and that’s what we are going to have to do this week,” added 29-year-old Jarvis.

“We’ve got to make sure we review it (the Palace defeat), take the positives out of it and look forward and really go for it on Saturday.

“It’s like the Newcastle game and that was a fantastic atmosphere, a great game – and if we can get the same result (the Canaries beat the Magpies 3-2 two weeks ago), it will be even better.”

“Of course that Sunderland game now looks even bigger.

“That’s the time of the year it is.

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“Each game now gets bigger and next week is massive, especially being at home.

“If we can get that win, it really does give us a big jump.”

Norwich are gunning for a double against the Black Cats, who were under Dick Advocaat’s control when they crashed 3-1 at the Stadium of Light back in August.

We really wanted to take something from the game at Crystal Palace and we were really disappointed we didn’t. So now we need to make sure our home form continues and we get a good result against Sunderland,” said Jarvis, who joined Norwich on a permanent deal from West Ham in January. following a loan.

“Winning games like last Saturday’s would definitely make life easier for us, of course, but we need to make sure we bounce back now.”