Amankwah Forson responded to Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich City ‘reset’ on his recall to the starting line up at West Brom.
The 21-year-old summer signing endured a difficult spell after a bright start to his Carrow Road career, but was back in the XI for the first time since September 14 at the Hawthorns.
“A kind of a reset with him,” said Thorup. “He started well for us and then he had some games where he was a little involved with some of the goals we conceded, and didn't have maybe the best performances in those games. It affected him a little bit, also personally, but if you can restart them a little bit you can support them a little bit.
“Part of that is to give these guys chances once in a while. And I think he took it. He showed there's potential in this guy. He found some really, really good positions.
"I think he attracted their full back on the left side a lot, which created space for Jack (Stacey), and I think he was also close to scoring himself with that shot from the edge of the box. He ended up in many, many good situations.
"It was positive for him, and hopefully both for him, but also for the team, a step in a good direction.”
Experienced right back Stacey was also recalled to the starting line up, with Kellen Fisher switching to the left to try and handle Baggies’ dangerman Tom Fellows.
“He had quick feet to deal with him, but we saw that you need maybe even quicker feet to deal with that guy,” said the City chief. “He's obviously a great player in the league, and can cause every full back in the league some problems.
"And I think he did. It was great to see Kellen in the second half, where he got better and we looked more defensively solid, because he was a threat in the first half.
"But we also thought in a more offensive way with the choice on the left side to see if we can create some space with him, Emiliano (Marcondes) and Borja (Sainz), where I think we've seen in training, but also games, that they link well and create some good moments together.
“I praised Jack after the game, because it's not easy for him. He's been out for quite a while now, because a stupid coach from Denmark comes in and says, ‘Okay, I want to play with some younger players instead’.
"You can deal with it in so many ways. What he has done is train on a high level every day, and he's trying, and he knows that at that moment I need to accept it, but my chance will come, and you have to do everything you can to make sure that the preparation is right for the time when you step in after many weeks. Now he needs to start again on Tuesday.”
Fisher is suspended for Plymouth’s midweek visit after picking up his fifth booking of the season against the Baggies.
Centre back Jose Cordoba is also set to remain sidelined, ahead of further scans on the knee issue he originally suffered in the home draw against Leeds.
“He came back from Panama with some knee pain,” confirmed Thorup. “Actually trained with us Thursday, and felt all right in the morning, but after the training it got worse, so we needed to take a look at him Friday morning, and it was not good for him.
“Hopefully nothing too severe, nothing too serious, but we need to find out (Sunday) and probably Monday, when we can find a scan for him, what it is exactly. The guys are positive around the situation, even though he was not in the team, and most likely will not be on Tuesday night either, but hopefully nothing too major.”
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