NORWICH boss Peter Grant today voiced his concern that advertising boards are too close to the pitch at Portman Road and other grounds.He spoke out after learning that Luke Chadwick, stretchered off on his debut at Ipswich on Sunday, will be absent for at least the next three to four weeks.

By Mel Henderson

NORWICH boss Peter Grant today voiced his concern that advertising boards are too close to the pitch at Portman Road and other grounds.

He spoke out after learning that Luke Chadwick, stretchered off on his debut at Ipswich on Sunday, will be absent for at least the next three to four weeks.

Chadwick, 26, put the Canaries ahead in their 3-1 defeat but was stretchered off near the end after colliding with the hoardings following a tackle from Town full-back Matthew Bates.

It was initially feared that the ex-Manchester United winger, signed on loan from Stoke with a view to a permanent £220,000 move in January, had dislocated his shoulder.

But although he did hurt his shoulder, it emerged today that Chadwick spent two nights in Ipswich Hospital after a clean-up operation on a deep gash to his knee.

Norwich are now resigned to being without him for several weeks and he risks missing the forthcoming busy Christmas and New Year programme.

Grant, who described his team as “awful” in the wake of Sunday's comprehensive defeat, expressed his fear that other players could be injured in similar circumstances.

He said: “We had the same thing at West Ham last year with Danny Gabbidon when he gashed his knee on a board behind the goal at Blackburn and was out for four to six weeks.

“It's something we all have to look at for the safety of players because you get enough injuries on the pitch without getting them off the pitch.

“It's important to have sponsorship but perhaps the boards are too close.”

In common with other clubs hosting live-on-Sky fixtures, Town cashed in by accommodating extra advertising hoardings along the touchline facing the cameras at the weekend derby.

Chadwick was expected to be discharged from hospital today after doctors found the gash so deep that it went through to the kneecap.

Grant added: “Luke's doing all right, but the cut was that deep, it had to be cleaned out.

“He should be home today and he'll have to rest a few days because we can't take a chance with it. The cut went right through on to the kneecap.

“It's a big disappointment for Luke and for us. I thought he did well and he scored a goal. It'll be three to four weeks, which is a lot of games to miss, and it's a big blow for us.”