Selfless Josh Sargent key to Derby delight for Norwich City

Sargent may not have been the one holding the match ball and receiving the acclaim, but without his contribution, it's certain that Sainz wouldn't have been either. 

Two assists and an excellent decoy run enabled Sainz to earn the headlines and City the points, but it encapsulated an afternoon of tireless work from the American international. 

Within that work was productivity, even if it didn't harbour a goal of his own to celebrate, but his quality in combining with Sainz ensured City's spells of possession were translated into offensive moments. 

Sargent has become a talismanic figure for Norwich, perhaps more so after the exits of Gabriel Sara and Jonathan Rowe, but his game under Thorup is looking more rounded, and he is being asked to produce more behind those goals. 

His movement has improved, and his athletic build and ability to play both with his back to and away from goal make him a difficult proposition for opposition defenders who have yet to find a way to defend him successfully.

He's happy to have an arm wrestle should they go tight, can turn and play if they leave space and welcomes any invitation to run in behind. That makes him a tricky customer to contain for Championship defences. 

Sargent's goals attract attention, but his chance creation has significantly improved within Thorup's system. His three assists this season are already more than he achieved last year; his goal-creating actions per 90 is the highest of any City player. 

His role has altered. Thorup has opted to make him a wider part of the structure rather than just utilising his goal-scoring moments, as was the case last season. 

An often unspoken characteristic of Sargent is his defensive capabilities. He is the first line of City's press and often the trigger point to retrieve the ball, which requires real footballing intelligence and physicality.

Sargent is playing a more collaborative role in City's system. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd) Throughout this campaign, Sargent has shown his ability out of possession. That willingness to work displays his commitment to his team-mates, but equally how much buy-in Thorup has achieved from him. 

Given Norwich's new possession-based approach, Sargent is now being required to show a greater level of patience. Of the seven players to start every Championship game so far, the striker has had the fewest touches. 

The idea is that the chances City construct are of a higher quality for Sargent to convert, and this season he has seen 15 of his 18 efforts come from inside the area. As Norwich's attacking patterns improve, so too will the quality of chance presented to their number nine.

City are patient in their approach before exploding into attacking passages, which forces Sargent to go periods without the ball. But his well-rounded nature gives him the option to drop in to link the play alongside causing a threat behind the opposition's defences.

Strikers may be individually better at this level than Sargent at certain aspects of the game, but as a complete number nine, the American's skillset makes him the best in the Championship. 

That inevitable frustration in his own goal-scoring form needs to be channelled in the right way. If Sargent persists with his movements, combination play and tireless work, those opportunities will be dispatched more consistently. 

City's first goal arrives through Sargent reacting quickly after Marcelino Nunez's high turnover to curve a run in behind. Despite a heavy pass, his pace gets him to the ball ahead of Eiran Cashin, who eventually blocks the ball with his arm or Jacob Widell Zetterstrom before turning it to Sainz to finish, albeit after the ball has run out of play. 

Perhaps his afternoon was best summarised by his work for the second goal. Sargent's dart in behind took Eiran Cashin with him to provide the space for Sainz to arrow his low shot into the far corner. 

Then came his quality for number three. Sargent's ball-carrying ability got Norwich up the pitch before a moment of technical quality to produce a cross with the outside of his boot to tee up Sainz for his hat-trick. The ball into the box tempted Zetterstrom off his line enough to give the winger space to slot it underneath him. 

Irrespective of the noises around others, City's ability to keep Sargent is a major coup, especially amid significant interest and even bids for the MLS. There was perhaps surprise that more interest didn't emerge later in the window.

In this system, Sargent will score goals. Providing he keeps fit, most would back him to surpass his tally of 16 goals achieved last season, including an incredible run of form following his injury that helped spark City's late charge to the play-offs. 

Without the shackle of that ankle niggle, Sargent has a chance to prove why he should be the latest Canaries star to move for major money next summer. 

Sargent's shift was tireless during their 3-2 victory over Derby. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd) But right now, he is essential to the success of Thorup's system. Given he is being asked to do so much more than just score goals, it explains why his early performances will have been met with acclaim by his boss. 

It is yet to ignite in terms of goal scoring for Sargent, but his role in this City side is perhaps more embellished than ever. 

VERDICT: A selfless shift from City's number nine who, despite not getting himself on the scoresheet, played a critical role in Borja Sainz's hat-trick. His off-ball work tireless, Sargent is a real focal point in this City side.

RATING: 8 out of 10