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Injured Ivo Pinto set to miss Norwich City’s Championship kick-off, reveals Daniel Farke after Stevenage friendly

Ivo Pinto is struggling with a hamstring injury. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd ©Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222

Ivo Pinto is set to miss the start of the Championship season with a hamstring injury, revealed head coach Daniel Farke after Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw at Stevenage.

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Pinto has sat out the last two close-season tune ups and the German admits it is a major blow as the Canaries prepare for the league trip to Fulham on August 5.

Captain Russell Martin is likely to get the nod against the Cottagers with the Scottish international set to make his seasonal re-appearance following a back problem at Cambridge United this weekend.

“Yes, Ivo will be four weeks. That is to be honest not good for us because he will miss nearly the whole of pre-season,” said Farke. “It is not good for his physical base. I am not sure if he will be ready for the first game. That is a problem. We have to find a solution. On the right full back position we have no specialist. We will miss him a lot. We can find some solutions though. We played three at the back in this game because there was no right full back.

“Russell trained on Monday for the first time with the team and again this morning but it was too early to bring him back on the pitch. We hope he will be able to take part against Cambridge and he is an obvious option for us in that area of the pitch.”

Farke took no risks with a number of his senior men at the League Two club with 16 players on duty. New signing James Husband did make a late debut hours after completing a move from Middlesbrough. The Norwich chief is predicting big things from the versatile left-back.

“He is a pretty good character. A young guy with so much potential,” he said. “He has to develop and improve on some things but he is technically good. He is a good passer and an offensive full-back. He has played over 60 games in the Championship so he has that experience. In the last year or so he had some problems with injuries but when he gets into a fit condition he will be able to influence the game. For sure, we needed another option.”

Norwich confirmed prior to kick off first team coach Frankie McAvoy had left the club, with the Scot set to be reunited with Alex Neil at Preston.

“Frankie is a wonderful guy, really friendly,” said Farke. “I liked him a lot and we had a good time together but I believe there is a new chance for him in a different role with some more responsibility. He can stand on the pitch and work with the guys so I wish him all the best. We had two lovely weeks.”