Norwich City: Where does Jack Stacey stand in rebuild?

At first it felt like a surreal, if comical, moment, the Canaries' 28-year-old, experienced right-back charging forward and running out of ideas before tripping over the ball 30 yards out. Within seconds it had become a turning point, as Yuki Ohashi wheeled away celebrating Blackburn's late equaliser.

Head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup summed it up post-match, even if he refused to name Stacey as the culprit. "It starts with a situation where we intercept the ball," he said.

"We were running forward, we had the ball, but we gave it away too easily. Then we have to defend again, instead of a situation where we can create a chance or at least just control the game in their half. It's important learning."

That learning is to be expected from City's younger players, with the likes of Gabriel Forsyth and Kellen Fisher still in the midst of their footballing apprenticeships. Even the likes of Amankwah Forson and Jose Cordoba have some excuse, as they get to grips with the Championship for the first time.

But an experienced campaigner making such a simple error at such a critical point only added to the frustration, and it came at a bad time for him personally.

The City faithful are still trying to work out where the land lies on Stacey; whether he's an expendable member of the old guard soon to be steamrolled by the machine of the new era, or a valued part of the rebuild set to start for years to come.

That debate has already been divisive, sections of the fan base seeing him as surplus to requirements and a product of David Wagner's desires, others pleased with his impressive athletic output.

The former have almost moved on from the former Bournemouth man already, looking for alternatives and wondering if Max Aarons would be available for a loan return. Just 12 months ago he was seen as an upgrade on Aarons, a shrewd signing at a difficult time.

The latter say he's been scapegoated, and have him nowhere near the 'disposable' column of Norwich players. Among a number of players struggling to adapt to a new, attacking style, they see him as the perfect modern-day full-back.

In many ways, talk of Stacey being part of the rebuild would challenge his own motivations. "You can look at is at a club view and say it's transitional," he said after the opening day defeat to Oxford. "But as players, you don't have a lot of time in your career.

"You don't really have time for transitions, so we don't want to write off any time or any matches. We want to be able to perform on the pitch with this group of players, which we showed we could last year."

Stacey and Johannes Hoff Thorup have both been ambitious despite talk of a transitional season (Image: Andy Sumner/Focus Images Ltd)

That could be seen as unwillingness to buy into the project, but in many ways it reflects the ambition both his boss and his team-mates have shown.

 Thorup's been keen to state his promotion ambitions, however lofty, in many public appearances since being promoted. Callum Doyle reiterated that when speaking after an event with the Fans Social Club.

Maintaining that drive will be important in the Colney dressing room as the long-term plan unfolds, and Stacey still very much has the legs to keep it up on the pitch.

That's the operative element in the discussion around City's number three, and by far the most important consideration for the Dane: does he have what it takes to perform in this system?

Unlike many of the others who appear set to fall by the transitional wayside, there have been flashes. There have been lung-busting runs, perfectly-weighted crosses, timely tackles and positive possession play. There have also been mistakes, but this is a player still theoretically in his prime.

Much like the other players Thorup inherited, the answers to his future at the club will come with time. That's why it's a transition.