Norwich City manager Phillipe Clement has announced that Mirko Topic suffered an ACL injury during the week’s 1-1 draw with Oxford United at Carrow Road.
The Serbian midfielder joined the Canaries from Famalicao in the summer for a cost of approximately €3.5 million.
Topic, like the most of his teammates, has struggled at times this season, but the 24-year-old has been a regular for Norwich, starting both games under Clement.
The four-cap Serbian international had appeared in 16 of Norwich’s first 17 games, and his arrival had been received with a lot of anticipation due to the sum paid for his services. However, Topic’s initial campaign in Norfolk has ended, dealing a significant early blow to Clement.
Philippe Clement and Norwich City supporters react to big Mirko Topic blow – Ben Knapper’s tactics blamed.
The midfielder was forced off in the week’s tie against the United, and Clement stated afterward that he was concerned about Topic’s injury.
Sadly, such concerns have come true, as the manager announced to the club’s media that Topic has damaged his ACL and will now begin the long road to recovery.
While there is no exact timeline for his recovery, Topic will not play again this season, and he will most likely miss the first few months of the 2026/27 season.
So, this is certainly a major setback for Topic and Norwich, and it’s especially frustrating for the Norfolk club because attacker Ante Crnac sustained the same injury last month.
It’s no wonder that many Norwich fans are regretting their luck after a difficult 16 games, with the side already six points from safety.
Another supporter echoed that view, as he rued everything that has gone against Norwich this season.
However, other fans questioned the medical team due to Norwich’s injury record, because, as previously stated, Crnac has already experienced the same issue, and this supporter believes they are not signing players who are ready to play in the Championship.
It’s an intriguing school of thought, with under-fire sporting director Ben Knapper being indirectly blamed for overseeing a recruitment policy of foreign players who, it is believed, come from less physically demanding leagues and are unable to cope with the rigor and exertion of English football’s second tier.
This fan also felt injury issues have become a theme for Norwich over recent years.
Finally, this fan felt that another major injury exemplified Norwich’s ‘banter’ season, as the club faces the very real danger of relegation to League One.
Norwich City’s 2025 summer recruitment policy
For some years now, even during their days in the Premier League, Norwich have frequently looked to overseas, and perhaps lesser-tapped-into, transfer markets for squad building.
It’s a strategy that’s not without merit or success, with significant profits being collected for South American pair Gabriel Sara and Marcelino Nunez along with Spanish winger Borja Sainz.
However, there have been more misses than hits, and many of Norwich’s signings in recent years have appeared out of their depth after being thrust into the hustle and bustle of the Championship, with reared-and-ready recruits possibly required in order to stake a genuine promotion bid.
Competing for a Premier League return is, of course, far from everyone’s mind at Norwich right now, as they will instead be focused on avoiding relegation to League One. However, the Carrow Road faithful believe that the Canaries’ current crisis is the result of ill-fated boardroom recruiting and strategy, and Topic’s season-ending injury points the finger once more at Knapper and al.
Philippe Clement must find the perfect recipe quickly at Norwich City.
To begin, you have a lot of sympathy for Topic because this is the type of injury that every player fears, and it will be a lengthy journey back to full health for the player, which is not what he would have wanted just a few months after joining Norwich.
But these things happen, and Topic must focus on his recovery, while Norwich must cope without the midfielder moving forward.
Clement is still appraising his squad, given that he has just recently arrived, and this injury provides an opportunity for another player to demonstrate their abilities, with Pelle Mattson replacing Topic this week.
The Canaries’ first two games under the former Rangers manager have been frustrating, particularly Oxford’s late equaliser, and while there were some positives to take from the performance, they are still six points from safety.
So, it’s critical that Clement gets things right as soon as possible, and it’ll be interesting to see what modifications are made in the future.
Norwich will attempt to right their wrongs and win their first game under Clement when mid-table QPR visit Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon.
xz
