Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup is challenging Ben Chrisene to step up and soften the blow of facing Plymouth without the suspended Kellen Fisher.

Chrisene is in pole position for his first start since mid-September at left back, with Fisher unavailable after a fifth booking of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at West Brom.

Jack Stacey grabbed his chance after a recall at the Hawthorns, and the Dane backs the 20-year-old England youth international to shine.

Chrisene arrived from Aston Villa in the club's summer recruitment drive to attract younger talent, but has so far only had four league starts.

“He's also one of those where he had a good start with the team, but then he struggled a little bit, I think, both tactically and technically, finding the rhythm, finding the flow,” said Thorup, speaking at Colney on Monday. “And then when we decided to look at some of the other players we found that rhythm, we found that flow so there was no reason to change too much.

"Now he needs to show, first and foremost, that he's been training well, and he's been doing well, and he's been doing everything he can. I highlighted Jack the other day because he's been a super professional, which meant he could actually step in to play 90 minutes, which was not expected.

“It tells something about the character of him. Ben needs to do the same (on Tuesday), and hopefully he can. If he can just replicate what Jack did I'll be more than happy.”

Angus Gunn, Liam Gibbs and Onel Hernandez all returned from injury lay-offs at West Brom, but Marcelino Nunez will not be brought back into the fold before Luton’s upcoming weekend visit after his hamstring-related issues.

“I've said a couple of times now we go easy on him,” said Thorup. “He was a part of a session (on Monday) and he had one big smile out there. So that was really positive. That's the first time he joined a bigger group session where all the players were involved.

"He's done smaller bits with less players or more one-to-one stuff and also with the physios. But the first time with the whole group. We build him up and I think the plan is that he will be available on Saturday.

“We cannot be too affected by results and bring on players maybe a little bit too early, with the bigger risk of them having a re-injury, which will be a disaster for us at this stage. Now there's light at the end of the tunnel we are finally getting there.

“It was a part of the same plan that Onel, after his international trip to Cuba, could be available for around half an hour on Saturday, and Gibbs a little bit less. It was just good to see those guys are finally getting back. So, so important that it is not only the 11 that will decide the game. It's also the guys from the outside.

“We know when we bring on Onel there will always be something that happens. There will always be chances, and dangerous moments related to him. Gibbs is a fighter for the team and can cover more positions for us. It changes the picture.

"We don't weaken the team when we have to do subs, we can actually put on players with quality. Liam did well when he came on. It was a fight at that stage, and he needed to deliver for the team and to support the team.”