Dean Smith confirms Christos Tzolis remains the only player isolating with a positive Covid case. DS on latest Covid situ in the squad: 'We have the one confirmed case. He is isolating at home. But the rest of the squad, we are ok. But we can see what is happening in the country. I have had my booster. We are hopeful of getting others to do the same.
DS on fears of returning to BCD games. "It's always worrying when you've got the PM coming on the screen to tell us what's happening but the last two years we've had that, we got through the first period." Very much projecting a message of no internal panic about Covid.
Smith on Villa: "There's an advantage that obvs I know the majority of strengths & weakness as brought the majority in, think it's just John McGinn that was there before." But clearly Gerrard will have changed methods, has watched & "they've had some really good results"
Smith not getting caught up in the
#AVFC emotions, says the decision to sack him was out of his hands and has spoken plenty about his personal connections. "I move on very quickly, I'm enjoying life at Norwich and it just so happens it's Villa tomorrow."
DS on controversial PL refereeing calls: "All managers understand can't have consistency from referee to referee, as sometimes they'll see things differently, but want consistency in a 90 minutes." Highlights subjectivity of penalty decisions, VAR improvements still needed. Smith says "I still feel the referees need to take more on-field responsibility" in terms of over-reliance on VAR for making decisions
Smith on busy festive schedule
#NCFC "We can only control the next game and concentrate on our own performances. We're moving in the right direction and hopefully results will follow."
Smith stresses creating chances is the important thing and he remains convinced that the
#NCFC goal output will improve: "We need to make better decisions in the final third, if we do that then we'll be fine."
DS says no extra motivation to be playing against his former club
#AVFC "No, only the motivation that is to win the next game. We need to because of our position in the table and the gap to safety. We've taken 5 points in 5 games under me and we need to take more."
Smith asked if
#NCFC have had a Xmas party, which seems a bit irrelevant to me, when they're playing football in a stadium of 27,000 people - the party fuss was from a year ago... "We've only had a virtual one, where there's one or two of us in the room."
Smith asked more about Villa links, stresses his 'sole remit' is
#NCFC now but can't hide connection. "I'll always be a Villa fan." Jokes: "I was quite proud of the fact my lad came back from America and he wanted to go and watch Liverpool v
#AVFC rather than the Norwich game.
Grant Hanley - no fracture but definitely got ligament damage, out for at least 10 days. Ben Gibson - training today. Andrew Omobamidele - back after Christmas period (stress fracture in back). On Zimbo. 'Not running yet. Maybe indoors running next week or so.'
On Normann. 'Hasn't trained yet. So he won't be ready for
#avfc. Rashica, back running. We hope he is available for
#arsenal.'
#ncfc On Tzolis. 'Not sure about the protocols and when you can return. I'll leave that to the medical dept.'
First Buendia question put to Smith. "It was enjoyable working with Emi, a good lad, top player, a fiery character. Signed him for a reason because knew he could perform at this level." Points to playing a slightly different position so far this season. More on Buendia: "I said from the outset he's not the new Jack Grealish. They don't play similarly, they're very different players. Emi's had a bit of a troubled start, getting injured and then going away with his country and having to isolate for 10 days in Croatia.
A little more from DS on Hanley shoulder injury: "It's a blow, captain as well, but when you see someone like that go down and stay down you know there's a problem. I was really pleased with Jacob Sorensen when he came on."
DS asked about what reception Buendia should get. 'He should have the one he deserves for what he did here. I saw the reaction Jack Grealish got going back to
#avfc. He deserved better than that.'
You can guarantee he's gonna have the game of his life.
