Michael O’Neill’s job as Stoke City manager is under threat – and according to reports circulating int he last day or two in the mainstream media Daniel Farke could well be waiting in the wings to replace the Northern Irishman.

O’Neill saved the Potters from relegation when he arrived in 2019 to replace Nathan Jones, eventually guiding the Staffordshire side into mid-table in his first half-season in charge.

There’s been no progression in the two years since though, and after a run of eight games without a win in the Championship, time is believed to be ticking fast on his job at the Bet365 Stadium. 

And according to The Mirror, former Norwich City boss Farke, who has two promotions from the Championship under his belt during his time in East Anglia and recently departed Russian outfit Krasnodar without managing a game, has emerged as a candidate to potentially take O’Neill’s job

Norwich City Under-23s won 2-1 away to Fulham on Friday night thanks to Tony Springett's brace at a wet and windy Motspur Park.

Fulham had already clinched the Premier League 2 Division Two title, but the three points help to keep Norwich second in the league, firmly inside the play-off places with five games to go.

Luke Harris was first to go close for the hosts, shooting just wide after getting on the end of a cross from the right wing.

Christos Tzolis had City's first shot of the game, his free-kick hitting the Fulham wall and Nelson Khumbeni volleying onto the roof of the net from the re-bound.

Dylan Berry was kept busy at the other end, punching a corner away as far as Ziyad Larkeche, who struck just over the bar.

With just over half an hour played, Berry made two good saves to deny Oliver Sanderson and Adrion Pajaziti, but then the pressure paid dividends.

One-on-one with Berry, Ollie O'Neill became the first scorer of the night as he snuck the ball between the City keeper's legs.

But the Canaries responded almost straight away, Liam Gibbs picking out Tzolis with an accurate aerial pass from a deep position.

The Greek winger cut inside and switched the play to Springett who, with time and space, shifted the ball onto his right foot and fired it past Alexander Borto at the near post.

Sonny Hilton came close to giving Fulham the lead early in the second half, but his effort back across goal was comfortably dealt with.

Saxon Earley found himself in a promising position after receiving a through ball from Tzolis and saw his shot saved at the near post by Borto.

In the 65th minute, Tzolis had plenty of time and space to run into on the left wing, which he did before drifting inside and shooting wide of the far post.

Second-half substitute Flynn Clarke had a shot saved by the onrushing Borto before Jonathan Tomkinson headed over from the following corner.

With 15 minutes remaining, City took the lead for the first time as Clarke picked out Springett inside the 18-yard box. He was afforded the time and space to poke it calmly past Borto for 2-1.

Fulham: Borto; Bowat (Robinson 76), D'Auria-Henry (Dibley Dias 86), Odutayo, Larkeche; Hilton (C), Francois, Harris (Sanderson 24), Pajaziti, O'Neill; Stansfield

Subs not used: Adams

Goals: O'Neill (37)

Bookings: Pajaziti (34), Odutayo (45)

Norwich City: Berry; Giurgi, Tomkinson (C), Warner, Stewart (Shipley 66); Gibbs, Khumbeni (Clarke 66), Earley (Matos 90+2); Kamara, Tzolis, Springett

Subs not used: Rose, Hills

Goals: Springett (40, 75)

Bookings: Clarke (80)

HT: 1-1

Venue: Motspur Park

Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer has confirmed there will be a discussion between his side and Premier League outfit Norwich City regarding a potential return for Onel Hernandez next season, speaking candidly to Birmingham Live.

The Cuban is already establishing himself as one of the most integral players for Bowyer’s men in the West Midlands in his short time at the club, arriving from the Canaries in January following an unproductive loan spell at Middlesbrough earlier this term.

Scoring just once in 17 appearances for Boro, he often appeared from the bench and only completed 90 minutes on two occasions for the Teesside outfit before returning to Carrow Road.

In stark contrast in the Midlands, he has recorded three goals and two assists in 12 displays, an impressive record for the 29-year-old who would have been downbeat following an underwhelming spell at the Blues’ Championship rivals earlier on in 2021/22.

Not only has he been an asset in terms of goalscoring contributions – but he has also played in multiple positions and proved to be a valuable commodity in each – though Bowyer will be keen to keep him in an advanced position alongside the likes of Lyle Taylor and Troy Deeney for his efforts going forward.

With the Blues operating on a tight budget, opting against signing Riley McGree in the previous window, there are doubts as to whether they will be able to recruit Hernandez on a permanent basis.

However, the second-tier side’s boss has revealed they will try to bring him back to St Andrew’s as he said: “I don’t know [the prospect of getting him back], the one thing I do know is Onel loves it here. I have had a few conversations with him and he is really enjoying it.

“Onel is one of those people you need to put your arm round, tell them you love them and let them play. If you keep the reins on him then he is not going to be the same player.

“It’s obviously something that is going to be out of my control but there will be a discussion between the two clubs in the summer. If we can find a way I am sure we will.”

Scottish keeper Jon McCracken has signed a new longer term deal at Norwich City.

The 21-year-old, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the Canaries, has extended his stay until 2024.

His current Carrow Road contract was due to expire this summer.

McCracken originally moved south from Hamilton when former Accies' boss Alex Neil was in charge of the Canaries in 2016. The shot stopper has been a regular at development level, and did make three Football League Trophy appearances last season.

“Obviously I’m delighted,” he said, speaking to the club's official site. “As soon as there was any talk, I was keen to get it done. I’m buzzing to get it and hopefully it will be another good two and a half years. 

“It’s coming up to six seasons (since joining the club). I’ve been through the ranks with the Under-18s, under-23s and the first-team. 

“The club gives you loads of help behind the scenes with the physios, who are top. It’s a great category one academy. 

“It’s hard being out for a season, but the club help you with every aspect. Credit to them for giving you the support that you need. 

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“I’m forever grateful to all the coaches I’ve had throughout my journey here. A lot have come and gone but it’s been great. It’s a really close family at the club. Everyone knows everyone.

“When the gaffer (Dean Smith) and Shakey (Craig Shakespeare) came in, results picked up and then there were a few tough games against great opponents who, on their day, most teams would struggle against to beat.

“Coming into the crunch time of the season, hopefully the boys can get the results we need to stay in the league. That’s the objective everyone wants.

“Personally, to get games is important, it’s massive, whether it’s for the 23s or going on loan in the summer and seeing what happens.”

The likes of Archie Mair, Dan Barden and Michael McGovern all signed longer term deals with the club over the past 12 months.

City also recruited Angus Gunn ahead of their Premier League return to compete with experienced first choice Tim Krul.

“I’m loving it, it’s great and it’s good to see the many lads before me who have made it as professionals. Hopefully I can follow them and keep up that path into the first-team squad.

A host of Premier League and Championship sides including Norwich, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United are all monitoring Luton Town’s Kal Naismith ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports published this week on the Football League World website.

The 30-year-old joined Luton Town in the January transfer window at the beginning of 2021 and was originally signed to add another option to the Hatters’ attacking ranks.

However, he was soon asked to fill in at centre-half and has, from that point, really flourished as a utility player for the club.

Indeed, he’s been a regular in the back three that Nathan Jones likes to employ as the Hatters have gone about putting together a play-off push in the Sky Bet Championship but his contract is up in the summer and that has alerted interested parties.

Football League World go on to reveal with that in mind, then, that Burnley and Norwich City in the Premier League, as well as second-tier sides West Brom, Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, are all keeping tabs on him ahead of the summer market, with the prospect being that they’d sign him to play in defence rather than in attack.

Luton, though, are aiming to earn promotion to the Premier League themselves and it remains to be seen what impact that might have on Naismith’s situation.

Norwich City manager Dean Smith has spoken about the future of Jonathan Rowe.

The Canaries were knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool following a 2-1 loss after Takumi Minamino scored twice in the first half, even though Lukas Rupp scored in the second half.

The 18-year-old appeared for the final 30 minutes of the bench, which was the youngster's sixth appearance of the season for the club since signing pro terms just before Christmas

"He is a good kid, he has got a great attitude to the game. Alisson (Becker) has made a hell of a save at 2-1," Smith told the press.

"Jonny Rowe has got a hell of a future ahead of him if he keeps on the same learning path. His attitude and his character tells me that. We will keep working with him and he will keep working hard as well and he will get better and better."

Norwich City will be back in action on Saturday as they face Brentford with Rowe's midweek showing sure to guarantee his continued presence in and around the first team

Norwich City winger Christos Tzolis is unhappy at Carrow Road amid a lack of game time, according to Greek daily Sportime.

Tzolis made the move to Carrow Road in the summer, arriving from Greek side PAOK Salonika making it a double landing at the club for the Canaries, who also signed Dimitris Giannoulis from the same side.

The winger made an emphatic debut for the Canaries, scoring two goals in a 6-0 demolition of Bournemouth in the EFL Cup.

Since then however he has not kicked on at Carrow Road, managing only three starts all season in the Premier League and he has not made an appearance this month for the Canaries.

In light of his lack of chances at Carrow Road, Tzolis is currently unhappy.

The winger took part in the Under-23s game against Aston Villa earlier this week of his own volition, playing the full 90 minutes as nevertheless the youth side succumbed to a 2-0 loss.

Manager Dean Smith urged Tzolis earlier in the week to forget about his price tag, being £8.8m, and admitted that the winger was not feeling especially confident.

With the Canaries being bottom of the table, relegation could be on the cards and it would not be surprising if an offer to leave the club came the way of the winger.

Former Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith reportedly sent a scout from his Norwich City side to watch Keinan Davis for Nottingham Forest last week.

The Sun report that Mike Rigg, the former Burnley director of football, was dispatched to Forest to have a look at Davis ahead of a potential move for the player.

Dean Smith knows Davis well from his time at Villa and gave the 24 year-old his Premier League debut.

Davis was signed back in 2015 to Villa 's youth academy having previously been on the books at Biggleswade Town and Stevenage.

Smith's predecessor Steve Bruce gave Davis his Villa debut just over five years ago but further first-team appearances have been hard to come by particularly since promotion to the Premier League in 2019.

Davis was sent out on loan to the Reds in January with Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings ahead of him in Gerrard's pecking order up front.

So far Davis has scored twice and registered the same amount of assists in ten games for the promotion-chasing Reds with the player only tasting defeat once for Steve Cooper's side.

Davis' future likely lies away from Villa Park and with his contract up at the end of the 2023-24 season, Villa will hope that the player can increase his transfer value with a strong ending to the season.

A move to Norwich would make sense for all parties, with Smith recruiting a player he knows well and Norwich able to bring in someone who is a capable player at second tier or Premier League level.

Davis, too, would be reunited with Smith who played him 49 times before he was sacked by Villa and replaced by Steven Gerrard in November.

Forest may fancy their chances of signing Davis, too, if the player continues to impress and help the Reds into the play-offs.

Davis has appeared 86 times in all competitions for Villa, scoring six times and registering seven assists.