Norwich City: Johannes Hoff Thorup's midfield dilemma

Struck by an injury crisis that eventually ravaged all departments at Carrow Road, Norwich City were at one time without Marcelino Nunez, Anis Ben Slimane, Jacob Sorensen and Liam Gibbs.

Add to that the fact that Emiliano Marcondes had only just entered the picture after five months without any competitive action, Amankwah Forson was suffering from a distinct lack of confidence and Kenny McLean was latterly handed a four-game suspension, and it's fair to say that the central area of Thorup's team selection looked threadbare.

But Nunez's return this weekend marks the last of those from all of the aforementioned players, albeit with another issue ruling Gibbs out in the process. Thorup's gone from threadbare to an embarrassment of riches, boasting many of the Championship's best midfielders and a team now brimming with confidence after demolishing Plymouth Argyle 6-1.

With all of that choice, however, comes the proverbial selection headache for the Dane, and it's a difficult one now that Nunez is back in the picture. He may be fit only for a cameo from the bench, but competition was already developing before the Chilean's gleeful resumption of training.

Midfielders like Emiliano Marcondes have impressed in Nunez's absence (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) That was evident on Tuesday night, when Thorup shocked supporters by starting both McLean and Sorensen in the same team. The pair have typically been categorised as deeper options in recent years, and usually this City setup allows for only one of those.

But that duo allowed Marcondes to roam free and take up the 'number 10' position his head coach says is his best, and it worked a treat. Again the 29-year-old was busy, impressive and effective, contributing two assists and plenty of hard work. There's an argument not to fix what isn't broken, but the second half threw that into doubt.

During it Slimane was introduced, coming on first as a right-winger and then dropping to a more familiar central role. He controlled the game's tempo with skill and cool-headedness, before topping things off with a fine finish and a less cool-headed celebration. After that it seemed impossible to exclude him from this weekend's selection, but next week it gets a little more complicated.

Even if a trio of McLean, Marcondes and Slimane is chosen for Luton Town's visit, Thorup then has to find room for Nunez in his next starting line-up. That's assuming he hasn't forgotten the 24-year-old's brand of fervent flair, for if he has then there's no doubting the quality of the incumbents.

Some players, though, are simply too good to sit on the bench, and his performances so far this season have put him at least close to that bracket. Before blows to Josh Sargent and Jose Cordoba, it was his and Angus Gunn's absences that completely wiped out the Canaries' early momentum.

That means one of McLean, Marcondes or Slimane will presumably have to be dropped, and that choice isn't an easy one. The former is an essential stalwart who only recent came back himself, the latter a dazzling creative who can fashion a chance from very little.

The free signing, on the other hand, was down in the books of few as an eventual regular starter, but has arguably been his team's best player this month. Even Oscar Schwartau is in the mix, having grown with every game he's played, while Forson appears to be on his way back to form. Perhaps it's a choice that only a professional coach should make.

In any case, this is the sort of problem Thorup longed for just a few short weeks ago. As he's so often said, things can change quickly in football and especially in the English second tier.

That's why he'll revel in this decision, tough as it is. From a position where squad depth was a regular criticism, he's not in a bad one now.