Norwich City 4-3 Stevenage: Paddy Davitt Carabao pointers

1. Case closed

If Oxford was a false start now we know what a Johannes Hoff Thorup Norwich City feels like. Look no further than a majestic team goal, finished by makeshift striker Onel Hernandez, to nudge the Canaries back in front 10 minutes from the interval at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.

Jaden Warner had an aggressive Stevenage press to contend with, as he turned back towards his own penalty area. But there was no panic, no desire to launch the ball aimlessly long and return possession to the visitors.

He drilled a ball to the feet of Abu Kamara, who rolled it back to Kenny McLean, who in turn cushioned a long pass into the feet of the overlapping Jack Stacey, to pick out Hernandez for a rising close range finish.

Fast, incisive, clinical football produced under pressure. That is what Thorup demands, and what he delivered in his 18 months at FC Nordsjaelland.

The sloppy set piece concessions, and Brad Hills’ late own goal, tempered the sensation this was a foot perfect display, but it was a marked improvement from the laboured, lifeless offering at Oxford on the opening Championship weekend.

There was ample evidence in all four of Norwich’s goals to suggest that process of assimilation is beginning to bleed into a squad who have been set a dramatically different challenge to that posed by Thorup’s predecessor. 

2. Put your hands together

The warmth of the ovation that greeted Amankwah Forson’s substitution, just past the hour mark of his full debut, underlined what a hit the Ghanaian midfielder could become with the Yellow Army.

After an eyecatching cameo at Oxford, when he barely had time to learn his new team mates’ names following his signing from Austria, Forson cut a commanding figure bossing central midfield against the League One visitors.

There was an early calling card left as Dan Kemp sent him spinning to the turf five minutes in, but the comeback in itself showed the character as well as the quality Norwich appear to have acquired.

Forson demanded the ball again and again in Norwich’s smoothest passages of midfield play. A sharp turn and threaded pass was perfectly weighted for Borja Sainz to race to the byline and cut a ball back eventually turned home by Kamara.

The cheeky nutmeg and drilled pass into Sainz’s feet that turned defence into attack in the 31st minute spoke of his growing confidence, before a glimpse of his calmness and awareness to pass up a narrowing shooting angle to roll in Hernandez to slot Norwich’s fourth goal.

Early days, and no need for the hype machine to click into overdrive, but Forson could well become a poster boy for both City’s future recruitment patterns, and Thorup’s game model.

3. Rowing back

It would appear Jon Rowe and his camp have two choices from here. Either the England Under-21 international opts for a full and frank mea culpa, acknowledging his actions were unprofessional and disrespectful to his team mates and the supporters who, upto Oxford, adored him, and pledge to give everything again for the green and yellow cause.

At least until such time as a club puts the type of money on the table that would give Norwich a decision to make.

Or those around him can engineer an escape route between now and the end of the current transfer window.

Little surprise those pre-match reports Monaco have now reached out to his advisors, after French rivals Marseille tabled a low ball offer last week. Certainly one well below City’s valuation for an academy produced English talent who, but for injury interludes last season, would have surely attracted a posse of Premier League clubs to Norwich’s door this summer. But that is yet to materialise.

Which is why the actions of Rowe in communicating his lack of ‘motivation’ to his head coach on the eve of an opening day test at the Kassam remain baffling.

Thorup and Ben Knapper had little choice but to relegate him to the Under-21s, until such time as Rowe shows he is ready to play his part.

This is not simply a beef between club and young star, but a case study for the rest of a squad who will watch with interest how the Dane handles this early test of his authority. There can be only one winner.   

4. Striker light

Adam Idah absent, as he looked to put the finishing touches to a transfer saga which feels like it has spanned the entire summer. City held firm in the relentless torrent of speculation Idah was Celtic-bound to secure a deal which, by common consent, represents excellent business from sporting director Knapper.

To command a guaranteed £8.5m, with a potential £1m in add ons and a 15pc sell on fee, for a player with 16 senior goals to his name in green and yellow should ensure all parties get what they wanted. Take note, Mr Rowe.

But once Idah is officially pictured holding aloft a Bhoys’ scarf and professing his undying love for the Hoops the focus shifts to who replaces him at Carrow Road?

Much like the speed Forson arrived in the wake of Gabby Sara’s recent departure, expect Norwich to move swiftly.

Plenty of leg work has already been done to target a permanent arrival. City are believed to be willing to commit to a fee in the region of Forson’s £4m package for the right player. Maybe even a shade higher.

But with Josh Sargent’s future still a subject of conjecture, after interest earlier this summer, this is a nervy period for Thorup.

The sight of Ken Aboh on the bench against Stevenage, after a bit-part role in pre-season, and in all probability a Football League loan posting to come, underlined the scarcity of resource.  

Although the jovial Hernandez might have something to say about that after his Carrow Road cup brace in a central striking role.