Norwich: USMNT ace Josh Sargent hailed as complete striker

Sargent was a huge miss for more than three months with an ankle injury, but his flying header at QPR in a 2-2 Championship draw made it seven goals in 11 league appearances.

The 23-year-old will be a key figure on Tuesday night in a crucial Carrow Road play-off tussle against Watford.

“I think for every team in the world if one of your best players, your top striker, is out for such a long period - and it was more than three months, nearly four - this is never nice,” said Wagner. “Now we are happy that he is back, and we have to make sure that he stays healthy as well.

"What impact he does on us as a team, on us as a group, he has shown when he was on the pitch.

"We are happy that he is now consistently catching up minutes and fitness as well. It takes some further time. Everybody should have this in the back of their head, especially him, because he is very greedy and hungry to play.

"But he's a smart guy and he knows exactly what kind of decisions we need to take to keep him healthy.”

Fellow striker Ashley Barnes hailed Sargent as City's best player after his soaring QPR effort.

“Josh is an absolutely complete striker,” said Wagner. “He's quick enough to make runs in behind and the technique is good enough to have good link up play. His first touch is good to accelerate the game, he's good in the air as well.

"Tactically, very intelligent in how to press. Endurance-wise he can play, if he's on the highest level, without a problem three games a week and on a very intense level as well. He's a complete number nine and he makes other players better.

“If you have seen Barnesy, for example, in the last games, especially now against QPR he played super good in his link up play. He is on a totally different level as well if Josh is with him on the pitch, and this applies for some other players as well.

"He only can get better and better with every week with every game. The sky's the limit for Josh.”