Marcelino Nunez is back for Norwich City but Johannes Hoff Thorup insists it would be ‘too risky’ to throw him in the deep end against Luton Town.

The key midfielder lasted barely a half at Stoke in October, before a reoccurrence of hamstring problems after sitting out international duty with Chile, and Thorup wants to avoid the same outcome.

Nunez’s return to the fold this weekend in the Championship against the Hatters is well-timed, with fellow midfielder Liam Gibbs facing up to 10 weeks on the sidelines following another hamstring setback in the midweek 6-1 hammering of Plymouth.

“Nacho was electric when he was out there (on the training pitch) the first day, and running around,” said Thorup, speaking at his pre-match media call at Colney on Thursday lunchtime. “We just have to be very careful with him, because I think if we asked him now, he will be able to play 90 minutes on Saturday, but it’s just good to have him back in the squad.

"A start would be too ambitious because, like I said, I don't think we should do anything that is too risky.

"We need to build him up nice and easy and for him to find his way into the team again. It's an important one on Saturday, but it's also an important one the one after that, and the one after that and the one after that. And we need to make sure that we have as many players available for the Christmas period as possible.”

Gibbs was set for further scans later on Thursday to assess the extent of another hamstring injury.

“It is an injury just like what he had last time. So unfortunately, I think we're looking at the same amount of weeks, maybe up to 10, but hopefully before that,” confirmed Thorup. “We need a scan to be 100pc clear and to see how serious, but just looking at his reaction and seeing him today it doesn't look good.

"(Could he require surgery?) I think they have to wait and see. There's better experts than me to sort that out, but, of course, they will look at all the options.

“We, of course, must look into how we can support him, because it's never easy with these injuries where you're out for more than just a couple of weeks, and especially to have one just straight after coming back again. That's a tough one.

“If someone can handle that, it's him, because he's a great person, and I was looking forward to have him in the team again, and we're just about to get started with him. He's a valuable player for us and for the club.

"The only thing I can guarantee and say to him is that he will still be valuable for us, and now it's just for us to wait a little bit more before we get back to work.”

Thorup will make a late call on the fitness of Jose Cordoba (knee) for this weekend, with the centre back sitting out the last two games. Kellen Fisher is available after a one-match ban.