Chris Sutton: Super Sargent is shining for Norwich City

It's been remarkable to watch him develop into a confident, goal-scoring striker this season. No longer is he the raw and shy youngster who Norwich signed from Werder Bremen back in 2021. 

His journey at Carrow Road has been one of patience. From playing out of position to having to improve aspects of his game, he now seems to be loving life in the limelight as they continue their push for the Championship's top six. 

Most of his Norwich career has been complicated by Teemu Pukki's success at the club. Few would have been unable to unseat the Finn as the spearhead of their attack during his time in Norfolk.

The biggest compliment anyone can pay Sargent this season, whether he was playing or not, is that Pukki's name has barely been mentioned this season. 

If he's playing, it's been about his performances and, when injured, it's been about the detrimental impact of his absence. Both scenarios create confidence for him to thrive off. He is adored at Carrow Road, in the dressing room and in the stands. 

Sargent said recently that this is the first season where he has played solely as a number nine. He knows that he is going to play every week, and he looks significantly happier on the pitch. That is only going to have a positive impact on his game.

Up until this season, I don't think he would have felt that he was ever the main striker. This year, he has been - he took the number nine shirt and looked two feet taller and his shoulders broader in pre-season before taking that into the Championship. 

Even during his run out of the team, he hasn't returned with any doubt. Instead, he looks determined to make up for lost time. Sargent is currently averaging a goal every 89 minutes - those are staggering numbers. 

He feels at home. Then it is about developing an understanding with your teammates - he has done that with the likes of Gabriel Sara and Ashley Barnes. 

I don't think the jury is out on him anymore - but he does need to get into a rhythm and show some consistency. That is the next aim for him to propel his career even further. 

When he was out of Norwich's team, it was obvious how much he was missed. Sargent will have been boosted even by that. Scoring goals is about confidence, and he is oozing it at the moment. 

Given how he started his career at Norwich, he looks a player transformed. After a tough season in the Premier League, he was probably wondering whether he actually had a future at the club. 

Now the position has shifted where Norwich will be worrying about keeping him heading into the summer. 

To play as a central striker successfully, you need to have a rounded set of attributes. Sargent is good in the air, good with his back to goal, and his link-up is okay.

The thing that has surprised me is how much he's developed with his movement in behind. That is a part of his game that has improved drastically - perhaps that period behind Pukki helped him learn that side of the game. 

Not every striker has every single attribute, but he's pretty well-rounded in all departments. With his profile and age, I'm sure there will be people watching him closely and with real interest. 

Josh Sargent had to be patient behind Teemu Pukki as Norwich City's number nine. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

But he needs to discover a consistency. He has missed a fair chunk of the campaign, and any potential suitors will want to see him do it over a more sustained period of time, especially given the money they'd likely have to pay to sign him. 

At this moment in time, he's focused, confident and in form. Hopefully, he can help nick Norwich into a play-off spot. Keeping him fit is of paramount importance from here. 

The problem Norwich have got is that it is a numbers game. The form has been much better, but Saturday was two points dropped - much like QPR. They need to be winning those games. You have to be ruthless, especially when the margins are so fine. 

As far as I can see, the equation is a pretty one for Norwich - if they want to get promoted, the away form has to improve. 

When I played, I always felt that psychologically there was a difference, but you just have to play your own game. They will not be sitting on the coach in fear. Virtually every game they have to go and win now. 

They cannot be on the backfoot or fearful. All they need to focus on is the next game. They don't need to look at those teams around them - you only do that if you don't get the results. 

Saturday is an opportunity to push ahead of their competitors again. Beat Sunderland, and you create an eight-point gap to them. Take them out of the equation - that is what they should be thinking. 

The race is on. This will be a real test of their quality and their character. It has a tough season in parts - but they have a chance to prove everyone wrong. It's up to them to grasp it. 

Adam Idah has started life on loan at Celtic brightly. (Image: PA Images)

SUTTON EXTRA

Adam Idah has taken to life at Celtic like a duck to water, and that is only good news for Norwich City.

I don't think I've ever seen him header it like he did against Motherwell. It was full of quality and confidence. 

Idah has also scored a couple of penalties since moving to Celtic. That was big for him and his confidence - Celtic have had a real issue with them throughout this season. 

Celtic have Kyogo Furuhashi, who was prolific under Ange Postecoglu, but this year has been more of a struggle for him. He started the game at the weekend but the team was poor, Idah came on and was more of a reference point. 

It's early days, but he looks like a slightly different player at Celtic. It's not fair to say he was going through the motions at Norwich, but you always felt there was more in there to be extracted. 

The way Idah used his body and his physicality really impressed me. He held up the ball well and had defenders bouncing off him. His second finish was brilliant. It's not an easy one, but it was a big goal. 

Brendan Rodgers is a big admirer of him. You can sense the extra confidence he has got from playing for Celtic. Sometimes, players need a change of environment to flourish - it feels that is the case for Idah. 

It's been one hell of a start, but they have a couple of games against Rangers before the end of the season, and that is where you really get judged as a Celtic player. 

I'm really pleased for him. The goals are important but it's more the quality of them. It will be an interesting one to watch what happens at the end of the season. 

If he does well at Celtic, I suspect he will want to stay. But the lack of option in the deal will keep potential other suitors interested. It wouldn't surprise me if those Italian teams who displayed a keenness in January to do a deal returned to the table. 

Good for him. He's had a great start - like Josh Sargent, there will be a need for consistency.