George Long comes into an otherwise unchanged line-up as Norwich City face Stoke in the Potteries this afternoon.

The Canaries' international break was mired in injury anxieties for various players, but both Marcelino Nunez and Jose Cordoba have come through their respective issues to start.

Angus Gunn's side strain rules him out, however, and allows a rare league start for Long. He's replaced on the bench by Archie Mair,with Ben Chrisene also returning to the matchday squad after his concussion.

Onel Hernandez misses out after sustaining a hamstring injury in the recent Watford win, and is expected to remain a long-term absentee.

The same is true of Ashley Barnes (Achilles), although head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup offered an optimistic update at his pre-match press conference. Liam Gibbs (hanmstring) and Tony Springett (back) are also out for significant periods of time.

Jacob Sorensen (foot) is back in team training but not yet fit enough to make the squad, while Christian Fassnacht (Achilles) will link up with his team-mates next week.

Ex-Norwich centre-back Ben Gibson captains the host, who are managed by former first-team coach Narcis Pelach.

Stoke City: Johannsen (GK), Stevens, Rose, Burger, Cannon, Junho, Koumas, Wilmot, Gibson (C), Moran, Manhoef. SUBS: Bonham (GK), Vidigal, Seko, Ennis, Thompson, Bocat, Tchamadeu, Phillips, Tezgel.

Norwich City: Long; Fisher, Duffy, Cordoba, Doyle; McLean (C), Nunez, Slimane; Crnac, Sainz, Sargent. SUBS: Mair (GK), Stacey, Hanley, Marcondes, Chrisene, Forson, Gordon, Schwartau, Forysth.