What would Norwich do if Sargent was injured on World Cup duty for US?

England provided the personal interest, Sarge the professional one, but as the Welsh wilted, the USA v Iran game became the channel of choice.    

But that sideways move prompted some panic – nothing compared to what it would have done to Dean Smith I’m sure – when it was clear Sargent was in a spot of bother. Having stepped on the ball, he corked his leg (hyperextended it is the technical explanation) and looked to be in all sorts of trouble.    

If anyone was listening to talkSPORT 2’s commentary, Chris Iwelumo said: “He’s struggling there, he’s struggling.    

“It’s his ankle, his Achilles, everything because he comes down on top of the ball,  

“It’s his Achilles, it doesn’t look good for Sargent. It’s the way he comes down on the ball, so he’s basically stepped on the ball.    

“I can’t even look at it again!”    

The most dramatic verdict (apart from Mr Iwelumo’s) was that he’d done his ACL – seems the shockwave of the corking could do damage the whole way up his leg.    

Thankfully, post-match a smiling Sargent was walking around without, it seemed, discomfort, and consoling Iranian players in a selfless act that people further up a certain political food chain should take note of.    

Anyway, not wishing to head down that particular road, what did occur was Norwich City head coach Dean Smith. What was he thinking?

Josh Sargent in the middle of the rough and tumble of Championship football (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Sargent has proved to be an invaluable member of his squad this season, something perhaps few envisaged in the summer. He’s bagged himself nine Championship goals in 17 starts while Teemu Pukki has half a dozen. Sargent has a couple of assists, while Pukki has four, but when all facets of the game – passing, heading, etc etc - are taken into account he’s top of the overall rankings.    

So he’d clearly be a loss had Mr Gloom’s ACL prediction been correct.    

But how would he be replaced? Adam Idah and Jordan Hugill are the back-up strikers: between them they have no goals, no starts and eight appearances off the bench. Idah’s - all six minutes of it - came at Birmingham in August, but he had further surgery on a knee problem which has kept him sidelined. A couple of weeks ago City posted of video of Idah working at Colney showing him ‘on the grass!’ - if that’s news, that he has finally graced some of the green stuff, then he wouldn’t have been ready for next week at Swansea.    

Hugill isn’t injured; he’s just out of the starting frame.    

So, no real replacement in the building for Sargent if needed.    

City have four more league games before the January transfer window opens, a time when the ‘problem’ could be addressed. But the noises, quiet as they currently are, coming out of Carrow Road are that City won’t be spending much, if anything.    

Asked before the QPR game early last month about his plans for January, Smith seemed happy enough.    

"I've said before we've got Adam (Idah), who should hopefully be back after the World Cup break, and a plethora of left backs coming back as well. The squad will be in a good shape. I believe this squad is good enough,” he said.    

If your glass is half full, you’d probably be happy enough with that. But what if Sargent had been badly injured? What does your glass look like now? Dry perhaps?    

Is there enough in the squad or in the till to ensure City remain promotion contenders without their leading scorer?    

One slip on the ball in Qatar, one reckless tackle … and we could find out.