Norwich City team sheet will underline how seriously David Wagner is taking tonight’s FA Cup third round replay at Bristol Rovers.
Wagner is desperate for a reunion with close friend and Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp in a fourth round tie at Anfield that awaits the winners.
The German made nine changes to his starting line up for the 1-1 Carrow Road stalemate, but some of his headliners will be involved at a sold-out Memorial stadium (KO 7:45pm).
“We will take it serious. And I’m quite sure we will not make nine changes again,” he said. “Some players deserve to start the next game. We have a lot of games coming now thick and fast continuously, like in the busy Christmas period. But the truth is, we’d like to win this tie and we will try everything.
“We have to make sure that we also have a great impact from our players on the bench. Like Onel (Hernandez) with his assist (at Hull), Farsi (Christian Fassnacht) with his goal. Ben Gibson came on after 60 minutes, and that is difficult for a centre back, but he performed very well, as did Sammy (McCallum) when he came on half-time.
Danish midfielder Jacob Sorensen is part of the squad after making his seasonal re-appearance in the first game following pelvic-related surgeries.
Key striker Josh Sargent gets the night off to manage his workload, after a recent return from an ankle injury. Grant Hanley is scheduled to return to training later this week, following a stoppage time exit in the first cup game with a back complaint.
Wagner will demand a marked improvement from the laboured offering against the League One club in Norfolk.
“In both directions, with and without ball possession, we have to be ready for the fight,” he said. “We have to be very good in winning second balls and in defending crosses into our box. Because the approach for them will not change – they will be quite direct for the challenges and crosses.
“In ball possession we have to be patient, to wait for your moment, but then in the right moments accelerate and be ruthless, as well put pressure on them. And this is exactly how we’d like to do it, and what we didn’t do in the first tie. Now it’s up to us to show that we learned our lessons.
“We made it clear that Josh will not play three games in a week, we will give him a rest for this game. After we knew we had this replay we said, ‘Okay, you will get this week for further training’, which is what he needs.”
Since the original tie City have ground out a 2-1 Championship win at Hull City that again raised questions over the manner of the performance.
“I loved the togetherness, the attitude, the defensive part of the game and how this group fought for every inch, which is so important to have this spirit and feeling,” said Wagner. “But the truth, as well, is we have to improve in ball possession.
“I have a lot of trust and belief in the players, and they know this as well. In ball possession they have massive space to improve. This is where we are honest to ourselves, we know exactly what we have done well, and what we haven’t done on our level, or what we are capable of doing. And the first thing is you have to be honest and name it. Then you have to work on it.
“Everybody sees it, which is quite obvious, now go and make it happen. Show composure and bravery in ball possession and do what these players have shown us already – how well they can play football.”
If the tie is level after 90 minutes there will 30 minutes of extra-time and penalties, if required
