Norwich City: Onel Hernandez starting chances assessed

But in many ways it feels like that's what's happened to Onel Hernandez. The Norwich City winger at one time became known for his Canaries tattoo, love of Argos and popular chant more than his strength, pace, dribbling skill and tenacity, and since then it's been largely downhill.

There are, of course, reasons for that on the pitch. He only recently ended his near-five-year Carrow Road goal drought in a Carabao Cup meeting with League One Stevenage, and he contributed not a single goal or assist the last time City were promoted from the second division.

Since then he's spent time on loan at Middlesbrough and Birmingham, struggling to leave much of a lasting impression as his colleagues were relegated from the Premier League.

In many ways it's understandable that fans want more substance from a man who brings so much personality and excitement to them. There's no room to carry anyone at Championship level, and if experienced centre-backs are to be held to account then well-worn wingers will be too.

But the perceptions of Hernandez as a man of all smoke and no fire have begun to get in the way of any good work he does, with more focus placed on his cheerleading warm-up efforts than the increasingly dangerous cameos he's made this season.

Saturday's loss to Swansea was the latest example, featuring various bursts into the hosts' box, a number of dangerously-delivered balls across it and the consistent out-doing of opposition full-back Josh Key. Nobody on the pitch completed more successful dribbles than the Cuban, none of his team-mates made more key passes, and nobody was dispossessed fewer times than him.

Such a contribution is invaluable in a deadlocked fixture like that one, and it's the sort he's made on a regular basis since Johannes Hoff Thorup's appointment. Time and again he's offered something different, a contrasting form of chance creation when it's needed.

Even in a 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace he gave former England international Nathaniel Clyne a torrid evening, again making more key passes than any of his team-mates, finding success with more dribbles and creating chances that should have been put away.

Prior to that he made a difference in home draws with Blackburn and Sheffield United, putting the visitors on the back foot and adding drive to an attack previously based mainly on possession.

The Cuban has made a series of impactful cameos this season (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) In a side still struggling to create chances and with a right-wing spot up for grabs, then, the question becomes whether the 31-year-old has done enough to deserve a start.

Ante Crnac has yet to really make his mark out wide, ditto Oscar Schwartau in his first start for City at the weekend. Gabriel Forsyth looks more comfortable and involved in a midfield role, and Kaide Gordon remained on the bench as Thorup looked for reinforcements in South Wales.

Options other than Hernandez have not yet been exhausted, but they're running out, and he's one of few Norwich wide men in form. Put in those terms his inclusion appears a simple decision, but there are other elements at play.

One of them is that life as an impact substitute seems to suit him; tiring defensive legs are ripe for the physical style he adopts and less capable of dealing with his direct threat. Many feel that to start Hernandez is actually to nullify him, and to use him at his least effective.

Another is his tactical suitability, with each of Thorup's right-wingers so far this term tucking in to involve themselves in intricate possession play and create space out wide for attacking full-back Jack Stacey. Starting the number 25 there means either a square peg in a round hole or a tactical reshuffle, and the latter seems unlikely under the philosophical Dane.

Avoiding those issues means replacing Borja Sainz with his current understudy, and, even after a disappointing performance at Swansea from the 23-year-old, that may well be counterproductive.

So Hernandez's inclusion is a complex issue, and one of multiple solutions Thorup could consider going into this weekend. But he has inserted himself into the conversation, and after missing out on the matchday squad on the opening day, that's testament to his recent performances.