Timely Onel Hernandez fitness boost for Norwich City

The winger has been sidelined for the last nine Championship matches with a hamstring injury, but looks set for a return after the current international break as City head to West Brom. 

Hernandez wasn't expected to join up with Cuba over this break, but has proved his fitness enough to make the journey to North America. He played 90 minutes in their 2-1 defeat to St Kitts and Nevis in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

The City winger was able to play for the entire Concacaf Nations League Play-In Round in Monkey Hill and is available to represent Cuba for the 11th time in the second leg on Monday. 

Goals from former Brentford, West Brom and Cardiff midfielder Romaine Sawyers and Oxford City defender Andre Burley secured victory for St Kitts and Nevis, with Cuba's goal coming through Luis Paradela. Orlando Calvo saw red for the visitors in added time. 

City are currently battling an extensive injury list that has contributed to their slump in Championship form prior to this international break. 

Hernandez has been touted as a potential striking option as City look to conjure up solutions to soften the blow of losing starting striker Josh Sargent to a groin injury earlier this month. 

The 31-year-old, who is in his eighth season at Carrow Road, did play there in a League Cup clash against Stevenage, and Johannes Hoff Thorup believes he would become a striking option alongside the soon-to-be-fit Ashley Barnes. 

Onel Hernandez started as a striker in a League Cup victory over Stevenage earlier this season. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) “That's the plan,” said Thorup when asked if Hernandez and Barnes would be back for West Brom. “We have to be careful, especially with players when they come back from long-term injuries, we have to be a little bit cautious in how we integrate them again into the team. It is finding the fine balance in the situation we are in now not to push them too hard.

“I cross my fingers that the guys out now will be back soon again so they can support us, because up front, obviously Josh is out and I think Emiliano did what he could, but a guy like Ashley Barnes will also come back into the group, hopefully soon, so he can give us another option.

"We've also seen Onel playing as a nine for us this season, so that could also be an option. But of course, the first priority is to get these boys back.”