4-2-3-1, Nunez in: The predicted Norwich XI to face Reading | OneFootball

The Dean Smith era at Norwich City is finally over – following weeks of fan unrest the ex-Aston Villa manager was delivered his marching orders after a 2-1 defeat away at Luton Town.

Whilst the Canaries are still in the play-off spots in the Championship, performances and results had been inconsistent this season, and their trailing of the automatic promotion spots by a significant amount of points forced the City hierarchy to pull the trigger.

In the interim, set-piece coach Allan Russell will take charge of Norwich, and his first task is to ensure three points are claimed when Reading visit Carrow Road on Friday evening.

Quiz: Have any of these 25 ex-Norwich City players ever played for a Yorkshire based team?

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Jonny Howson?

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What starting 11 will Russell select though for his first match in caretaker charge? Let’s take a look…

For his final match in charge, Smith switched to a 3-5-2 formation which ultimately did not work as the Hatters ran out victorious.

Smith also experimented with a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield at points of the current campaign, but the system most wedded to the club in recent years is the 4-2-3-1.

From the starting line-up against Luton, that would mean a defender has to drop out, and in this case it will most likely be Ben Gibson.

There could also be another casualty from the Luton match, with Liam Gibbs potentially coming out of the starting 11.

Coming in into the engine room could potentially be Marcelino Nunez, with the Chile international finding himself out of favour under Smith since just before the break for the FIFA World Cup.

Perhaps now is the time though to bring Nunez back into the fold next to Kenny McLean in the middle of the park, whilst there could also be a recall for Onel Hernandez.

The Cuban has more often than not been utilised as a substitute this season, but now could be the time to unleash him from the start, where he would come up against Junior Hoilett.

Mainstays such as Max Aarons, Grant Hanley and Teemu Pukki would retain their spots in the starting 11, unless Russell decides to throw a curveball and includes some lesser-spotted faces.