Marcelino Nunez has one final training session to prove he is fit for duty in Norwich City’s Championship return against Stoke City.

The midfielder pulled out of Chile’s recent internationals with a hamstring issue, after starring in the 4-0 league romp over Hull City.

Initial fears Nunez could be out for four to eight weeks have been allayed, but the 24-year-old only returned to team training with a light session on Thursday.

His head coach, Johannes Hoff Thorup, will take no risks with the classy South American, ahead of a busy three-game week following the international pause.

“More positive than expected. I think we will assess him (on Friday),” he said. “He could do a little bit on the pitch (Thursday), and will also do a little bit on the pitch on Friday. We have to wait and see, but a little bit more optimistic than after the Hull game.

"He felt some tightness, he felt it early in the game and actually wanted to keep on playing. We asked him during half-time, and he was also keen on playing. But of course after the game he could feel that it was not perfect. And we had him in the day after to see how he was, and it was not that good.

“He felt pain and he was sore, and he was tired, and felt that soreness in the days after, but we scanned him and he was not that serious. It was better than expected. He's not been in training for 10 days, or 11 days. But he was back a little bit with us in the last few days.

“We produced some quite high numbers physically in these last games, which is good. But we also have to be aware of that. Most of the players have to get used to that cycle, and it will take some time.

"Stepping into a three game week there will be rotation, there will be players that are maybe in for one, and then maybe not starting the other one. Nacho is not the only one.”

Angus Gunn will miss Norwich City's trip to Stoke City with a rib-related muscular issue (Image: Daniel Hambury/Focus Images Ltd)

Keeper Angus Gunn is definitely ruled out for the Potters, with what Thorup labelled a side strain, while centre back Jose Cordoba is another managing a fitness issue.

The Panamanian international did meet up with his country over the past fortnight, but sat out friendlies against the USA and Canada with the knee concern he suffered in the recent home draw against Leeds.

“They wanted to see him, which is perfectly fine,” said Thorup. “He went there, and it was also actually okay for him to go back and see his family and stuff like that. It was not something that was negative from our side.

"But of course, he was not able to play with that pain in his knee. It's not really an injury. It's just some pain and maybe some overuse. If he does well in the final training session there is no worries from my side that he can play at Stoke.

“Gunny had this kick to his ribs, or to the side of his upper body. A side strain, so it can be a couple of weeks. Definitely out for the game on Saturday. I think there's a chance we maybe can inject it and see if we can go a little bit faster. And, of course, it depends on how he will respond to that.

"If his body is okay then we can put him into training again. And if not, then, we have to wait and see. But I think it will be too optimistic for us to count him in for all the next three games.”

Jacob Sorensen (foot) has now returned to full training, with fellow midfielder Christian Fassnacht due to rejoin his team mates from next week.

“Farsi will be on the grass next week. Lunghi has been with us the last five days, so it's all looking better,” said the Dane, who also delivered a cautious fitness update on striker Ashley Barnes, who is yet to play this season with the calf-related issues that limited his impact at the end of the previous campaign.

“Barnsey came back, also feeling a little bit better after these couple of weeks wearing a boot again. So hopefully we can start to see him a little bit on the grass as well. That will be individual work to begin with, but maybe after a couple of weeks we can start to integrate him just a little bit more with the team, so it's looking better.”