Marcelino Nunez' serious-looking injury suffered on international duty was a real cause of concern to all of a Norwich City persuasion.
The sight of Nunez limping away from the Estadio Centenario on crutches and, perhaps more damning, not wearing the trademark smile that has been a regular feature of his look since arriving at Norwich was met with frustration and dread having lost Josh Sargent until January just a few weeks prior.
Reports in his native country are conflicting - some suggest that he is set for a spell on the sidelines with a grade two sprained ankle, but others are more optimistic.
In that regard, Norwich are better served to wait for their own diagnosis once the midfielder returns to Colney later this week.
Despite an initial reaction of panic and concern, Norwich are well equipped to deal with any spell that Nunez will spend on the sidelines if his injury is as first feared.
Norwich have Adam Forshaw, Jacob Sorensen, Liam Gibbs and even Pedro Lima to call upon as reserves for starting duo Kenny McLean and Gabriel Sara should they be without Nunez for a prolonged period.
The addition of Forshaw, which was questioned in some quarters, looks increasingly shrewd. He has utilised the international period to continue to get up to speed after missing pre-season following his release from Leeds.
Forshaw is dripping with experience and possesses experience by the bucketloads. Wagner pushed hard for another addition in central midfield after assessing that the squad lacked depth, especially in the deeper areas - that call looks pragmatic now.
Managing Forshaw will be key - that is why City's boss opted to allow him to spend 45 minutes with the under-21s rather than take a spot on the bench against Rotherham United.
Sorensen has been working his way back from a groin injury sustained in pre-season and will take time to get up to speed. But like Forshaw, he is somebody who offers depth behind McLean.
The concern would be that Nunez offers a different option in a more advanced role that Sara occupies.
Gibbs has been viewed as a more advanced option since Wagner arrived and Lima is still undergoing adaptation in the under-21s and would unlikely be called upon at this stage of his loan spell from Palmeiras.
Whether McLean could slot into that role in a worst case with Forshaw sitting remains to be seen, but Norwich have enough quality in their ranks to navigate any period in Nunez' absence.
Any lay-off for Nunez would serve as the latest setback since his arrival at Norwich.
There been glimpses of technical quality, namely that exquisite volley dispatched by a helpless John Ruddy in last season's win over Birmingham, but the Chilean has been unable to find a regular spot since his move to Norwich.
Nunez has struggled to grapple with English and hasn't defined himself either as a central midfielder or a more creative presence and is yet to start a Championship game under Wagner this season.
There is quality there - but the quest for Norwich, Wagner and Nunez is to find a way to extract it on a more regular basis.
His most consistent spell for the club arrived in the opening weeks of his time in Norfolk. Beyond the odd performance or moment within a game, the midfielder is still yet to stamp his authority on the squad.
That was always going to be a possibility after swapping Chile for Carrow Road - Norwich did a lot of work to prepare for this outcome.
Narcis Pelach has been a useful presence in conversing with Nunez in his native Spanish after the departure of translator Allan Rosling earlier in the summer. He has also been joined at Norwich by fellow Chilean Vicente Reyes - both of those moves should help him feel more comfortable.
It may be that Nunez, just as Sara has done, will improve the more he settles into life in Norfolk. City will continue to show the 23-year-old patience, hoping that he fulfils the potential they viewed during their recruitment work on him.
Given how Wagner wants to play, there isn't a natural spot for Nunez. Norwich's head coach believes he can play in a deeper midfield role or as a second striker - but in both cases there are options ahead of him.
Nunez is searching for his Norwich break. The mission is to try and unlock that on a consistent basis. Perhaps he just needs some luck.
If the diagnosis is a spell of the sidelines, it serves as yet another hurdle for Nunez to clear in his mission to become a consistent member of Norwich's squad.
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