Norwich City's recent injury crisis represents an excellent chance for the club's development players to impress, according to newly-appointed lead under-21s coach Olly Lee.

The Canaries have had to make do without key players such as Angus Gunn, Marcelino Nunez and Josh Sargent over the last few weeks, with their form in the Championship suffering as a result.



On Tuesday evening, prior to City's loss at Sheffield Wednesday, Lee made his first appearance in the home dugout alongside Alan Neilson at Carrow Road as the under-21s were beaten 2-0 by FC Nordsjaelland, Johannes Hoff Thorup's former employers.

Speaking after the defeat, City's new coach said his newly-inherited players have to believe they are capable of making the step up.

"The boys have got to see it as a brilliant opportunity," Lee stated. "Unfortunately, the first team have got injuries; we never want to see players getting injured. But you've got an opportunity now to get in the manager's eyeline.

"I'm sure he'll watch this game back, being his former side. Can you put yourself in the shop window to say, 'yeah gaffer, come and take me?'

"I've found with young players that they need to realise nothing's going to get handed to you. You've got to stand up and grab it, and that's something that I hope tonight, they'll go home and they'll think about.

Olly Lee is Norwich City's new lead U21 coach.Olly Lee is Norwich City's new lead U21 coach. (Image: Jeff Holmes/PA Images)

"It's an opportunity - you've got to take it, because no one's going to give it to you."

33-year-old Lee has made the move to Norfolk from rivals Ipswich Town, where he held the position of under-18s head coach, and he is relishing taking on a new challenge in his career.

"The set-up here is incredible, it's got so much going for it," he explained. "I think there are some brilliant staff here, excellent players.

"I wanted to come in, I want to learn, I want to get better. I'm striving to be the best I can possibly be, and I'll be striving to make the players the best they can possibly be. That's the most important thing.

"I'm really excited to be part of this football club and I'm really looking forward to seeing where I can help take these boys."

A number of recognised under-21 players have been given senior minutes for City's first team this season, and midfielder Uriah Djedje is optimistic that his chance could arise soon enough.

He said: "Ever since the manager (Thorup) has come in, he's been a lot more keen on the younger players. I saw a stat where our average age was much lower than last season.

"It shows that there is an opportunity to get into that squad, and obviously it's been proved by Elliot Myles, Gabe (Forsyth), Lucien (Mahovo) has been up there with them.

"I really get along with Johannes and Glen (Riddersholm). I haven't met Jack (Wilshere) yet but all the other staff, and I feel like they have taken a real keen (interest) in me.

"Hopefully my chance will come. I obviously had a chance in pre-season, travelling out with them to Belgium, and that was a great experience."

Uriah Djedje is hoping to earn himself a first-team opportunity at Norwich City.Uriah Djedje is hoping to earn himself a first-team opportunity at Norwich City. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)Djedje played the full match as City suffered their first Premier League International Cup defeat to Danish side Nordsjælland, and felt that the visitors' greater familiarity with a possession-orientated style showed.

"I guess you could say they've had more years to work on their craft," he said. "We've only had less than a season and we've had a lot of transfers, a lot of new players who haven't really played that kind of system before.

"It's a very interesting system. It works a lot for the first-team, it works a lot for us on different occasions during the game.

"As I said, they've had more opportunities to work on it, they looked a lot more fluid when they had the chances, and you can tell by them coming out the winners today."