Analysis of Oscar Schwartau's performance in Swansea defeat

After being part of the game-changing double substitution in the Canaries 1-0 victory against Coventry prior to the international break, the teenager was handed the opportunity to stamp his authority on a position that is proving troublesome in the opening weeks of their Championship campaign. 

Schwartau rejected the opportunity to feature for Denmark's youth side in order to remain in Norfolk to continue his work under Johannes Hoff Thorup - that work led to his first league start at the Swansea.com Stadium. 

The hope was that the training sessions and encouraging cameos would be latched upon - but on a tough day for City as a collective, Schwartau struggled to positively impact the game. 

Schwartau had the fewest touches of any City starter, with just 20 in the 57 minutes he was on the pitch. Just five of those came in the attacking third of the pitch. 

Often, especially in promising positions, Schwartau's close control let him down. Only Borja Sainz mis-controlled the ball on more occasions than the Danish teenager. That will be a source of frustration for him given the quality he possesses. 

Neither of his two attempted take-ons was successful, and Schwartau didn't provide enough defensive protection to avoid being beaten by his opponents on as many occasions. 

There was some positive work. Schwartau's physicality helped Kenny McLean force a turnover that led to Josh Sargent's next chance in the contest. The Dane's follow-up effort was blocked, but his running showed a glimpse of his knack for picking up promising positions within the box. 

Schwartau's substitution just 12 minutes into the second half displayed Thorup's desire for more impetus on that right side, and only further fuels the ongoing conversation about the direction City head in with that role, plus where the 18-year-old's qualities can be properly unlocked. 

Schwartau featured regularly for Brondby as an attacking midfielder, which begs the question over whether his City future could involve him forming part of their midfield three. 

Despite his technical struggles at Swansea, Schwartau offers a goal threat -something lacking from their midfield area at present - and could be better suited to connect with the game ahead of him rather than often being forced to play with his back to goal. 

Oscar Schwartau struggled to made his presence felt in City's defeat at Swansea. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) If Anis Ben Slimane's absence proves to be long-term, then Schwartau may present himself as a real option for that position. At Brondby, it was the left half space where some of his most productive work arrived. 

Schwartau has athleticism and has shown enough flashes in his City outings to date to display why so many in Danish football rate him so highly. The challenge for Thorup is to unlock that on a consistent basis. 

The midfielder only turned 18 in May - there is still so much further growth to come within his game. Perhaps more than any of City's summer arrivals, patience is needed when it comes to his output.

For City, the search for a credible right-wing option continues after Schwartau followed Crnac in struggling to find his best performance in that area of the pitch. Liverpool loanee Kaide Gordon was on the bench, but given his lack of training time, wasn't called upon in Wales. 

Jonathan Rowe's exit has left City short in those areas, with Thorup preferring an inverted wide option to allow Jack Stacey the licence to offer width in attacking circumstances. 

That was the theory as to why Schwartau was seen as a credible option in that area - but for too often in this contest he operated on the periphery and struggled to gain a foothold in City's spells of possession. 

To disregard it as an experiment entirely based on one fixture won't be Thorup's style - but it may well prompt that search to head in another direction as Watford travel to Carrow Road next weekend. 

Schwartau's first touch let him down on a few occasions during the 1-0 defeat. (Image: Paul Chesterton)Schwartau's future at Carrow Road is undeniably bright. Like so many in yellow and green at Swansea, the teenager had an off day. He will come again. 

VERDICT: Not the first start he would have hoped for in difficult conditions. First touch let him down on too many occasions. Experiment at right wing didn't bear fruit on this occasion - could form part of the central mix in Slimane's absence. 

RATING: 5 out of 10