Hughton weighs up Ruddy replacement

Norwich City manager Chris Hughton has not ruled out bringing in emergency cover for injured goalkeeper John Ruddy.

The England international is likely to require surgery on a ‘serious’ thigh injury which is expected to keep him out of action for the next three months.

Ruddy suffered the injury in the weekend draw at Everton and Hughton will look for short-term goalkeeping cover after Mark Bunn made an assured full league debut in the 1-1 draw at Southampton on Wednesday.

Rickie Lambert put Southampton ahead in the 32nd minute but a bad mistake by home keeper Paul Gazzaniga gifted the visitors a point.

City have highly-rated England youth duo Declan Rudd and Jed Steer on the books, but Hughton has not ruled out an experienced addition to cover for Ruddy.

“Those are the decisions we have to make,” he said.

“Mark is an excellent goalkeeper but it is a tough decision because it is such a big job.

“That is something we have to decide over a short period of time. It is a blow for us and for the length of time he is going to be out, he is a big player for us.

Hughton was delighted his side maintained their unbeaten run against the improving Saints.

“I think we were good value for the point,” he said. “And we have been in our last two games on the road.

“I thought Southampton were better than us in the first half but I thought we got back into the game and scoring the goal when we did gave us a boost.”

Nigel Adkins tried to take the positives from the draw.

“We got another point on the board,” Adkins said.

“That’s eight points in four games which is good.

“Of course you want to win your home games and in the first half I believed we were going to go on and win.

“Unfortunately that wasn’t the case but we haven’t lost it and it’s another point on the board so let’s be positive about that.”

Adkins was less enthusiastic about Gazzaniga’s mistake.

“He’s got to keep the ball out of the back of the net,” he said.