Ante Crnac’s substitution against Derby County sparked immediate worry, and Norwich City manager Liam Manning has verified those thoughts.
Norwich City manager Liam Manning has revealed that Ante Crnac will be missing for the season after rupturing his ACL against Derby County.
Norwich City are anxious for a result as they prepare to face Swansea City on Saturday.
NCFC has suffered four straight defeats, the most recent of which came away to Derby County on Tuesday night. The team’s persistent troubles have put a lot of pressure on head coach Liam Manning, who has only won two games in 11 since his hiring.
Swansea aren’t in great form, so this could be an opportunity for the Canaries to turn things around. However, it has been established that they will have to do it without forward Ante Crnac.
The Croatian youngster hobbled off after just under half an hour of play against Derby County the week before, and concerns were swiftly raised. Now Manning has confirmed the worst.
According to Norwich City media, Crnac sustained a ruptured ACL. Manning acknowledged his regret about the hit, confirming that his campaign will be cut short and that surgery will be required. He said:
“This is not good news.
“He ruptured his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. He will need surgery.
“It is quite disappointing for him and for us. You could see him walking off the pitch, dejected. He’s had some folks pick him up during the last couple days.
Next steps as Norwich City confirms Ante Crnac’s injury blow
As Manning pointed out, both coaching staff and people in the medical and physiotherapy departments will immediately unite around Crnac. His road to rehabilitation will be long, as is typical of ACL injuries.
The relevant stage and his Norwich City teammates will do everything they can to assist the youngster recuperate safely and eventually return stronger.
The focus will shortly shift to the forward’s operation before embarking on the path of recuperation. Targeted return dates will not be announced for some time, but with his season completed and based on usual recuperation timings, Crnac may not be ready to return until the start of the 2026/27 season.
Ante Crnac’s Norwich City statistics
Goals and assists in games: 52, 7, and 5 (advertisement).
Who will be relied on in the Norwich City attack?
Crnac has been deployed in a variety of roles by Manning thus far this season. The 21-year-old began the first five games centrally as an attacking midfielder behind star striker Josh Sargent.
However, in recent games, he has returned to the wing position that he is more comfortable with.
Manning is still working out his best NCFC attack, so losing Crnac limits his options. Jovon Makama, Oscar Schwartau, and Liam Gibbs began behind Sargent on Tuesday, with Emiliano Marcondes, Matej Jurasek, and Tony Springett on the bench.
Pape Amadou Diallo is out for the foreseeable future, but Mathias Kvistgaarden has returned to the fold. It remains to be seen who emerges from Manning’s preferred City attack, assuming he is given the time to figure it out.
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