admin Bad News for Norwich City: Star Defender Forced Off with Thigh Injury During Panama’s 1-0 Win Over El Salvador
Norwich City have been hit with yet another injury concern after defensive standout was forced off early in Panama’s 1-0 victory over El Salvador on international duty. The 24-year-old lasted only 12 minutes before being substituted, clutching his right thigh — a worrying sign for the already injury-stricken Canaries.
Norwich City Suffer Injury Scare as Jose Cordoba Limps Off in Panama Victory
Norwich City defender Jose Cordoba was forced off early with a suspected thigh injury during Panama’s 1-0 win over El Salvador overnight.
The 24-year-old lasted just 12 minutes before being replaced by Jiovany Ramos, clutching his right thigh in what appeared to be a worrying setback for the already injury-hit Canaries.
Cordoba had recently established himself in Liam Manning’s starting XI, impressing in his last two outings against West Brom and Ipswich Town. His pace and composure in defence had allowed Norwich to play with a more aggressive high press, adding balance and mobility to the back line.
Manning will be hopeful the issue is not serious, especially with his squad already stretched by fitness problems. Fortunately, Norwich have depth at centre-back — Jakov Medic was a regular before Cordoba’s inclusion, while Harry Darling has been an ever-present this season.
Elsewhere, Ruairi McConville and Shane Duffy are yet to feature in the Championship this term, although Duffy recently rejoined the matchday squad after recovering from a calf injury earlier in the campaign.
Cordoba, who joined from Levski Sofia in the summer of 2024, endured several injury setbacks last season under Johannes Hoff Thorup, missing six matches in total. His appearance against El Salvador was his first international start since June, following a spell on the fringes of Panama’s national team.
Despite Cordoba’s early exit, Panama went on to secure victory thanks to a 55th-minute strike from Jose Fajardo, with Cordoba initially deployed in the centre of a back three.
Meanwhile, head coach Liam Manning recently voiced frustration over Norwich’s persistent injury woes, particularly after confirming a long-term problem for Anis Ben Slimane last month.
“It’s something we’ve had some tough conversations about recently,” Manning admitted. “It was an issue last year, and although we made some adjustments in the summer, they haven’t had the desired impact.
“We’re digging into it now because I want to be able to pick from a fully fit squad — including the players we’ve signed. We’ve definitely picked up too many injuries, and it’s time to take action. We can’t keep managing crisis after crisis.”
With Cordoba’s fitness now in question, Norwich will be hoping for positive news from Panama’s medical team as they prepare to return to Championship action.
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