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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

Ozan Kabak set to miss Liverpool FA Cup clash as Norwich deal with injury crisis

Norwich could have as many as six first-team players missing when they face Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

And one of those who looks likely to be absent is one-time Liverpool player Ozan Kabak.

The 21-year-old Turkish centre-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Anfield during the Merseyside club's defensive crisis, is currently struggling with a shoulder injury.

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Kabak returned to parent club Schalke 04 at the end of the season but came back to England in August to join the Canaries on a season-long loan.

The young defender was an unused substitute when the two sides met at Anfield in the Premier League on February 19, with the Reds coming from behind to clinch a 3-1 victory.

But the injury to Kabak is just one of several issues that City boss Dean Smith has to deal with.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference today, he said: “We have a couple of fresh concerns. Brandon Williams and Max Aarons haven’t trained yet since the weekend, as both got knocks.

“Ozan Kabak is still struggling with his shoulder. Andrew Omobamidele and Adam Idah are the long-term absentees still out.”

Norwich captain Grant Hanley will also be missing after picking up yellow cards in the previous rounds against Charlton Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers, resulting in a one match suspension.

It leaves Smith short on central defenders to try and keep out the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, but the Canaries boss tried to look for the positives.

He added: “It’s a blow to have Hanley out through suspension for this game, but it gives him an opportunity to be ready for Brentford."

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