Thompson's injury not as bad as first feared

Louis Thompson could be back on the pitch in three to four weeks according to Russell Martin.

The Norwich midfielder took several heavy blows to his ankle in the pre-season game against Arsenal and was forced out after just half an hour.

Martin said he feared the worst when Thompson was in the treatment room, but said the news is positive.

"We've got positive news on Louis," he said. "It looked a bad one, he was in so much pain when he took a whack there. He's got a slight ankle ligament strain but it's healing quickly, and we hope he'll be back in three or four weeks so that's good news.

"We all feared the worst and that he was going to be out for a while. We're confident he will be back playing in three or four weeks, not just training."

Three others will miss the opening game of the season against Coventry tomorrow too - George Williams, Richard Keogh and Warren O'Hora, who suffered a concussion while away training with Ireland U21s.

Martin said: "George is slowly getting there. He's started running this week, but we'll have to take our time. We got him to a point where he was back, but he felt it again. It doesn't happen often with George, he came back in incredible condition. Hopefully he won't be too far off now, another week or two before he's back in with a chance of being in the squad again. He's feeling much more positive about it too.

"Warren O'Hora got concussed training for Ireland, so he won't be in contention so we will have to move thigns around, and Richard Keogh is looking really good. He's having his last set of tests next week which will hopefully give him the green light to return to training with us. He is dipping in and out of warm-ups, he looks really strong and in good condition. We have to hold him back a bit, he's enthusiastic, and we're feeling the same, but we can't rush it.