PREVIEW: Luton Town v Norwich City

Norwich City will go into the Carabao Cup clash at Kenilworth Road this weekend with as many as 19 players unavailable.

The Canaries squad has been decimated by international call-ups, suspensions and injuries, including leading striker Teemu Pukki who is with the Finland squad.

He is just one of a significant number absent though, including talented quartet Ben Godfrey, Todd Cantwell, Oliver Skipp and Max Aarons, who are with the England U21s squad.

Also with their respective nations are Danel Sinani (Luxembourg), Tim Krul (Holland), Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland), Kenny McLean (Scotland), Jamal Lewis (Northern Ireland), Przemyslaw Placheta (Poland U21s), Adam Idah (Republic of Ireland) and Jacob Sorensen (Denmark U21s).

Josip Drmic and Emi Buendia serve the second of their three match suspensions following red cards against Burnley last term, while trio Sam Byram, Grant Hanley and Xavi Quintillare are injured, with Onel Hernandez doubtful due to a groin strain.

Boss Daniel Farke told the Pink Un: “We have maybe 15 or 16 internationals away and not our worst players, to be honest. It is a strange situation.

“Everyone knows how much the cups mean to me and I treat them with the same priority as the league, that is my attitude.

"I am not sure how many players Luton are missing but not as many as us.

“It will be difficult to judge our team.

"We will get a team that will be a mix of first team and under-23 players but whoever represents Norwich City will go out and show pride and dignity.”

The Norwich boss has faith in whichever youngsters get the nod though, especially Academy keeper Daniel Barden who is expected to make his professional debut, after being on loan at non-league Bury Town last term.

Farke continued: “He is a top bloke, a good character and also I like his potential.

“He is going to be a bit in the spotlight at Luton but I have the feeling he is prepared, otherwise we would not look to play him.

“He is a confident lad and I am sure he won’t crack under pressure.

"There is a moment when you have to be thrown into the cold water and you have to swim.

"We can’t hide him or wrap him in cotton wool. A keeper, especially, has to be strong mentally.”

Although they are missing an entire match-day squad, Norwich can still field a team packed full of talent, with the Canaries bringing in Jordan Hugill from West Ham in a deal that could be worth around £5m recently, while Marco Stiepermann should feature.

City have also added Villarreal defender Xavi Quintilla on loan this summer, plus midfielder Kieran Dowell from Everton for an undisclosed fee.

The Canaries are also believed to have beaten competition from the Premier League and Championship for Burnley defender Ben Gibson on a season-long loan too, although that might not go through ahead of the cup game.

Another new signing, teenage full back Bali Mumba, who left Sunderland, knows that for the players remaining, it's a real chance to push themselves into the manager's reckoning early on.

He said: “I’m excited for Saturday. It’s a big opportunity for the new faces and all the lads who are looking to get a start and impress.

“I see it as an opportunity to really show what I can do from the start and earn trust from the boss with the ability that I’ve got.

“I played them (Luton) when I was at Sunderland once, so I know a little bit about them.

"They’re coming into the game eager to beat us, prove a point and show that they can beat us, but we just have to go into the game with the mentality that if we work harder than them then there’s no doubt we can get the win.”

Team news: The Hatters will be without Simon Sluga who is on international duty with Croatia, plus defender Tom Lockyer, who is away with Wales.

Dan Potts is out injured as well, with Brendan Galloway and Eunan O'Kane still recovering from their long-term injuries.

Man in the middle: John Busby – had 33 games last term, showing 123 yellow cards and five reds as he refereed in Leagues One and Two.

First Luton game since the 4-0 win over Doncaster in March 2019, while he also had the 2-1 Checkatrade Trophy victory over Brighton U21s that season.

Took the the 1-1 Checkatrade Trophy draw with Barnet in October 2017, Town going through on penalties and officiated four matches in the 2016-17 campaign, Hatters winning against Gillingham, Morecambe and Exeter, where he sent off Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, plus the 3-2 home defeat to Cheltenham.

Referee's assistants are Michael Webb and Anthony Da Costa, with the fourth official Paul Howard.

In charge: Daniel Farke – 43-year-old who was born in Germany, starting out as a striker with hometown club SV Steinhausen.

Played the majority of his time with SV Lippstadt 08, spending his entire career in the lower levels of German football, before returning to his Lippstadt as manager, spending six years in charge.

Stepped down with plans to take a year's sabbatical, but was appointed boss at Borussia Dortmund II, the reserve side of Borussia Dortmund.

Had two seasons at the Signal Iduna Park, before taking over as Norwich head coach in May 2017.

Led the Canaries to 14th in his first season, but won the Championship title the following year, although couldn't keep Norwich in the Premier League, instantly relegated last term.

View from the opposition: Daniel Farke - "Our opponent has two players away, we have 15.

"That doesn't feel like fair play, but we won't use it as an excuse.

"They had a very good finish to the last season.

"They will want to carry on in that way, but we want to go to the next round.

"It is one of the toughest tasks at this stage of the competition."

One to watch: Jordan Hugill – 28-year-old forward has come up through the leagues after starting with Port Vale in July 2013.

Had a loan spell at Gateshead before moving to Preston in June 2014 where he scored 30 goals in 112 games, also having stints at both Tranmere and Hartlepool.

Made an £8m move to West Ham in January 2018, but only played three times for the Hammers in total.

Joined Middlesbrough on loan for the 2018-109 season, scoring seven goals in 41 matches, while had his best stint last term, heading to QPR, where he scored 15 times.

That was enough to see Norwich invest in the forward last month, agreeing a deal that could rise to around £5m.

Friendly faces: Luton's head of academy coaching and professional player development Adrian Forbes came through the ranks at Carrow Road, playing over 100 games during his six years at Carrow Road.

Headed to Luton for £60,000 in July 2001, netting 20 goals in 79 games for the Hatters, before moving to Swansea on a free transfer.

When he hung up his boots in 2010, returned to Norwich, as he workied in the academy until he moved to Luton last summer.

Town's chief scout Kevin Reeves was signed by Norwich from Bournemouth for £50,000 in January 1977, scoring almost 50 goals and gaining an England cap.

Was signed by Manchester City for £1.25m in 1980, earning the Canaries their first ever seven figure transfer fee.

Coached at Burnley, Birmingham City, Wrexham and Swansea, before moving into scouting for Stoke City, Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton, joining Luton last summer.

For Norwich, highly-rated full back Max Aarons began his career at Luton, moving to Norwich City's academy in 2016 and has now played 83 times for the Canaries, scoring twice, while playing for both England U19s and U21s.

Fellow defender Jamal Lewis was born in Luton, spending four years in Town's academy, moving to Norwich in 2014.

Has gone on to play 100 games for the Canaries and win 12 caps for Northern Ireland too.

Young centre half Akin Famewo also came through the ranks at Luton playing 14 times for the first team.

Joined Norwich for an undisclosed fee in January 2019 and had a loan move to St Mirren last season.

Still managed to play three times for the Canaries U21s in the Leasing.com Trophy and then had his Premier League debut in the final minutes of the 5-0 final day defeat at Manchester City.

Played for both: Gary Doherty - Part of the Luton academy as he spent three years in the first team at Kenilworth Road, playing 83 times and scoring 15 goals.

Went to Spurs for £1m in March 2000, where he stayed for a four seasons, before a move to Norwich in August 2004.

Had six seasons at Carrow Road, making 227 appearances and netting 14 goals, heading Charlton in January 2012, finishing his career three years later at Wycombe Wanderers, having played over 500 first team games.

We've got League Cup form: Luton have met Norwich once in the competition before, that a third round tie in October 1985 when the Hatters went down to a 2-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road in front of a crowd of 8,203.

Town had beaten Sheffield United in the second round after a replay, but even though they had the likes of Mick Harford and and Mal Donaghy in the side, were knocked out.

Last time out: A last minute goal from Simon Lappin condemned Luton to a 3-2 defeat in the Championship at Kenilworth Road when Norwich last visited back on February 27, 2007.

Luton led when Bjorn Runstrom netted on 11 minutes, before Chris Martin, who was to join the Hatters later his career, levelled (26).

Drew Talbot put Town in front just after the break, but Jason Shackell equalised for the Canaries with 17 minutes to go and then Lappin's free kick won it.

Hatters: Marlon Beresford, Kevin Foley, Leon Barnett, Drew Talbot, Lewis Emanuel, Matthew Spring, Markus Heikkinen, Keith Keane, Steve Robinson, David Bell, Bjorn Runstrom (Warren Feeney 85).

Subs not used: Dean Brill, Steven O'Leary, Dean Morgan, Adam Boyd.

Referee: Uriah Rennie.

Attendance: 8,868.