IT may be the beginning of the mind games or a genuine concern but Norwich City are bemoaning an injury crisis ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Ipswich Town.

By Derek Davis

IT may be the beginning of the mind games or a genuine concern but Norwich City are bemoaning an injury crisis ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Ipswich Town.

Local bragging rights are the only thing at stake with the Blues one place ahead of 15th-placed Norwich, who are two points worse off and have a far inferior goal difference.

But local honour is massive between these two sides, especially after Ipswich won the home game 3-1 last November and were also victorious at Carrow Road last year.

City had the chance to overtake Town on Tuesday night but were well beaten 3-0 by Burnley and were hit by a catalogue of injuries.

Key player Darren Huckerby failed to start after injuring his back in the warm-up, while Dion Dublin, who has been influential in both boxes for the Canaries, injured his ankle four minutes from time and Lee Croft took a blow to a hip.

All are rated 'doubtful' for Sunday, joining Gary Doherty, Yousseff Safri, Simon Lappin and Mark Fotheringham as unlikely to figure.

City are already without the sidelined Luke Chadwick, Chris Brown, Peter Thorne and David Marshall.

Jurgen Colin has returned to Holland for family reasons and it is not thought that he will be back for the weekend's game.

City boss Peter Grant blamed the seven-and-a-half hour coach journey to Lancashire for the injury to Huckerby. He complained that a few of his players reported twinges in the back after the trip when they chose to travel up on the day instead of staying in a hotel the night before as many professional Championship clubs choose to do.

The Scot also blamed the officials for the defeat after goals from Ade Akinbiyi, Andy Gray and Wade Elliott.

Kris Renton was handed his full debut at Turf Moor after becoming City's youngest-ever player, at aged 16, when he made his debut as a substitute at Leicester City last Saturday.