Unlocking Josh Sargent the key to more Norwich City progress

Despite numerous positives accentuated throughout the opening 12 matches of the campaign, Sargent's consistent presence on the periphery of matches has caused concern. 

There should be no overegging or dramatising of the situation, but it does feel like the next hurdle to clear in Thorup's mission to push City up the Championship table. 

Sargent's stats read as four goals, including one penalty, from a total of 21 shots inside the opposition box. Only 10 of those efforts have hit the target. 

He is currently averaging 1.94 shots per Championship game, and 0.84 of those are landing on target. There is also an underperformance of 1.3 within his expected goals return.

All of those numbers speak to Norwich's struggles to consistently get him involved in matches and in goal-scoring positions regularly. But that extends to general play as well. 

In five of City's opening 12 Championship matches, Sargent has recorded the fewest touches of any of the starters, including the goalkeeper. In Sunday's 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough, the American international recorded just 16 touches - his joint fewest of the season. 

It's also about where those touches are coming. Only against Swansea did Sargent record 10 touches in the opposing penalty area. In their 1-0 victory at Coventry, he had more contact with the ball in his own defensive box than the opposition's. 

Barring two matches against Coventry and Derby, Sargent has received fewer than 20 passes. In four, that's been at 10 or under. 

Yet, despite all of those numbers, only West Brom's Tom Fellows has recorded as many assists as Sargent's five, and only Borja Sainz has more goal contributions across the entire division. 

There is the nub of the debate. While Sargent has largely occupied the periphery of Championship matches, he is still enjoying productivity. If Norwich want to find another gear in their development under Thorup, then unlocking the 24-year-old is the key. 

In that small sample of touches and involvement, Sargent is producing results. So now the work continues to increase his participation in their attacking phases. If they can achieve that, then his output will quickly skyrocket. 

If City can find a solution, then Sargent could explode. There is no big crisis at present, and teething issues are inevitable, but it is the next step to discovering further progress. Imagine a Norwich team with both Sainz and their number nine in full flow. 

That is being built from a decent base, given his numbers thus far, but it will require amending as the Championship season continues to develop. 

One solution is designed to get more bodies around Sargent - but a lot of it is about tweaking his movements and City's general use of wide areas to stretch the increasing amounts of low blocks they are facing. 

Thorup's willingness to openly reveal the internal conversations that have taken place with Sargent, both from him and the coaching team, illustrate this topic is on their agenda as they continue to craft the City side. That does offer encouragement. 

Josh Sargent has operated on the periphery of matches of late. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) Given much of the emphasis has been placed on City's work in possession and structures in deeper areas, then Sargent's role and the attacking patterns are likely to come later. 

Sargent is largely being asked to remain high and central to help City create space to play through teams in central areas. If he drops in too deep, it hands opponents the chance to strangle Norwich's deep spells of possession and removes an outlet. 

He occupies defenders, which has been a key reason why Sainz has been handed the licence to become more involved. 

Equally, there is an element of opposition tactics that aren't helping. In recent weeks, Stoke, Preston and Boro have all flooded bodies into central areas to limit progression through the middle of their shape. As a result, Sargent has suffered. 

Some of those game plans have been about deliberately limiting Sargent's involvement. That has worked to Sainz's advantage—as word of his form continues to spread, the opposite scenario may become true. 

In a sense, the fact he hasn't dropped too deep in search of the ball is a positive. It would be easy to get sucked in and go searching. Some of his promising runs in behind or away from defenders often haven't been found by those in possession at the time. 

Josh Sargent has been watching Borja Sainz produce the goal-scoring goods. (Image: Andy Sumner/Focus Images Ltd) Sainz's form has probably cast a smaller spotlight on the problem, with the Spaniard picking up positions not too dissimilar with the areas that Sargent would prefer to drift into, especially in the box. 

That relationship is blossoming, but Sainz needs to up his levels of creativity to help Sargent find his own rhythm. 

Equally, Sainz will have a dip at some stage so to be reliant on his goal-scoring isn't an option. 

Ultimately, despite the numbers and concerns - Sargent still has four goal contributions in as many matches. That is an impressive rate. He is too talented a player not to grab goals at this level. His well-rounded nature makes him the best number nine at the level. 

This isn't a Sargent problem. It is a collective problem. Those on the pitch and devising the structures will hold the solutions. He has been selfless this season and will want that work rewarded. 

If they can, Norwich will have real lift-off in the Championship. Let's hope some of the work being done on the Colney training pitch is visible in South Wales this afternoon.