AFTER MAKING HIS Premier League debut on Wednesday night, it looks like Cork teenager Adam Idah will lead the line for injury-hit Norwich City in the FA Cup this weekend.
The Canaries face Preston North End at Deepdale tomorrow, with manager Daniel Farke hinting at his plans for ‘natural born goalscorer’ Idah in his press conference today.
Norwich will be without star striker Teemu Pukki, who was substituted with a slight hamstring strain in their draw with Crystal Palace — in which Idah appeared — on New Year’s Day.
“Teemu Pukki is out for tomorrow, he has a little hamstring strain,” Farke said, adding that the Finland ace is also a doubt for their next Premier League outing.
“He’s struggling with his toe as well. I can’t predict whether he’s available for the Manchester United game.”
With hamstrung Josip Drmic and Dennis Srbeny — who’s suffering with a back injury — also ruled out of tomorrow’s showdown against Preston, it’s almost certain that 18-year-old Idah will start.
“We expect Josip Drmic to be back before the Bournemouth game,” Farke noted. “Dennis Srbeny is out, so Adam Idah is the only natural striker available having played just two Premier League minutes.
“Adam Idah is a good lad and is physically strong,” he later added. “He’s working hard every day and tries to improve, but I don’t like to be over the moon about a good two minutes or too strict with a poor performance.
Idah, who turns 19 in February and hails from Douglas, was handed his debut in the English top flight when he was introduced as a late substitute in Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.
Following in the footsteps of Southampton’s Michael Obafemi, Brighton midfielder Aaron Connolly and Troy Parrott at Tottenham, he became the fourth teenage striker from Ireland to play in the Premier League this season.
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