Norwich City's recruitment team are back on track with Gabriel Sara

To go behind at the Den, a ground Millwall haven’t lost at for a considerable time and come away with a victory, is certainly a sign he is at least building a ‘mentality monster’, to steal the words of his good friend Jurgen Klopp. 

Central to Norwich’s recent good performances has been Gabriel Sara who is really growing into his new role as Norwich’s biggest attack threat. While at the reported price Norwich paid for him it should be expected that he’d make a significant contribution this season, it is very pleasing to see him really start to dominate and dictate games in the fashion he is. 

The fact it has taken Sara a little while to adapt and settle into Championship football shouldn’t really be a surprise. Moving to a new country and having to learn a new language are challenging enough as it is, without the consideration of having to adapt to a very different style and pace of football that the Championship represents over the that in the Brazilian leagues.  

While there were glimpses of Sara’s talent under the previous manager, it has been the arrival of Wagner and a clear style and role for Sara that has really brought the best out of him and I think there is no question now that not only is he worth the reported fee, but it could even look like a bargain should he continue to improve at the current rate.  

While his excellent goal against Millwall will draw the suitable plaudits, as it rightly deserves, it has more been his impressive displays and ability to link Norwich’s attack to its defence that have been the most enjoyable thing to see.  

For long periods this season it felt like Norwich were a disjointed team with little spark or identity.  

Gabriel Sara has brought a different dimension to Norwich City's midfield (Image: Focus Images)

Wagner’s changes and Sara stepping into a key role has turned the tide of Norwich’s choppy season and the play-offs seem a real prospect – although it is probably a little soon into Wagner’s reign to really make such predictions now. With big games against Sunderland, Sheffield United and Blackburn in the next month turning a fantastically consistently inconsistent Norwich into a real force is what matters. 

It is early days, but it looks as if Sara is a ‘win’ for Norwich’s beleaguered recruitment team who have been under significant scrutiny after some less-than-ideal transfer windows.  

Some of the criticism has always been over the top but it has been a while since there has been a real highlight like Teemu Pukki or Emi Buendia.  

This is probably also Norwich being a little bit of a victim of their own success as few clubs can boast such returns in the transfer window as those two players represent.  

If Sara and Marcelino Nunez can turn out to be even a fraction of the quality of those two players then Norwich are onto something with their new focus on South America.