Norwich City warned to fear "lethal" Stoke City star with Ipswich Town motivation | OneFootball

Ali Al-Hamadi has made an instant impact since making the move to the bet365 Stadium in January

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City this weekend, as the Potters look to build on last weekend’s come-from-behind 3-1 win over Swansea City.

That victory over the Swans eased Mark Robins’ side’s relegation fears somewhat, as they extended their advantage over 22nd-placed Derby County to six points, with Lewis Baker’s mesmerising goal from halfway sealing the win at the bet365 Stadium.

They travel to a side in Norwich who have struggled for consistency of late, with two wins in their last seven league outings hampering their play-off chances, although they still find themselves four points off the top six as we enter the final third of the season.

With plenty to play for in East Anglia, we spoke to Football League World’s Stoke City fan pundit Daniel Buxton about which player the Canaries should be keeping an eye out for when his side come to town.

Ali Al-Hamadi's Stoke City impact praised ahead of Norwich City encounter

After Tom Cannon was recalled by Leicester City in the January transfer window, there was plenty of trepidation about Stoke’s options in the final third for the remainder of the campaign, but the addition of Ali Al-Hamadi has made a great impact already.

The Iraq international joined on loan from Ipswich Town for the second half of the season and has started the last three games for the Potters where he has made an immediate impression on the side.

His constant energy has set the tone for a side that Robins wants to be busy out of possession and gives City a platform to build from in the hope of getting the ball back in their grasp.

Not only that, but he proved on his debut that he knows where the back of the net is, with a strike rifled in to equalise against Hull City before Andrew Moran went on to find the winner against the Tigers at the MKM Stadium.

That win on Humberside at the start of the month marked Stoke’s first win on the road since early November, and Buxton believes their new number nine could prove the difference if they are to add another away win to their record this weekend.

When asked which player Norwich should be most concerned about this weekend, the Stoke fan pundit said: “Ali Al-Hamadi up front, I think he is very much a Stoke striker, he is very much a striker that the fans have already taken to. He has bundles of energy and defenders never get a second of peace when he is about.

“He is always on the back of them, harassing them, rushing them, just what defenders don’t want. I think Norwich’s defence have probably got the potential for a mistake, so they won’t want to see him about.

“The thing is, if you do put the ball in the right area as well, he is a lethal finisher as well, he is an instinctive finisher.”

He should have some extra motivation as well given he's contracted to Norwich's fierce local rivals Ipswich.

Stoke City wish aired after Ali Al-Hamadi, Ipswich Town loan deal

Al-Hamadi has been something of a breath of fresh air at the bet365 Stadium, with his tireless performances setting the standard for a side that has struggled near the bottom of the division for too long.

That energy in and out of possession is what Potters fans crave, and the 22-year-old has already endeared himself to his new fanbase with his relentless work ethic, and ability to link with his teammates in the final third.

There already seems to be a want for City to sign the striker permanently in the summer, although that will depend on Ipswich’s situation, with the Tractor Boys likely to want to make a profit on a player they bought for a seven-figure fee back in January 2024.

Buxton continued: “I would love to see him come in full time. I am not sure how possible or expensive that deal could be, even if Ipswich were prepared to let him go.

“What I noticed last week as well is that with his constant harassing of the Swansea backline, the midfielders and the wingers all pushed up and he set the tone for the rest of the side.

“So if you have someone like that doing it then the rest of the team can follow suit, so he is the man Norwich should look out for, and a man that can make us tick.”