Norwich City will be thrilled with key transfer decision after Watford exploits: View | OneFootball

Kenny McLean put on a great performance against Watford, leaving Norwich fans delighted that he remained at the club despite summer interest.

Norwich City may have found a turning point in their season this weekend.

The Canaries have endured a difficult start under Johannes Hoff Thorup as they won just one of their first five league games of the season. Defeats to Oxford United and Swansea City early in the season showed worrying signs, and in their two draws against Blackburn and Sheffield United, they lost points from a winning position.

It all started with a tough summer transfer window, as some very key individuals from last season departed the club. Gabriel Sara traded Norfolk for Turkey as he signed with Galatasaray, before Jon Rowe signed on loan with Marseille, which included an obligation to buy.

Sara and Rowe were hugely influential for Norwich last season, so Thorup was handed a couple of real issues as he had to ensure his side could cope without them.

One huge positive from Norwich's summer is that they managed to keep hold of valuable midfielder, Kenny McLean, after fending off interest from elsewhere.

McLean really proved his worth this weekend in a dominant performance over Watford, which could end up being somewhat of a turning point for Norwich and Thorup.

On Saturday, Norwich were desperate to right their wrongs after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Swansea the weekend prior. Watford were the opponents arriving at Carrow Road, after winning three of their first five league games, so it was bound to be a difficult afternoon.

Kenny McLean started in the centre of midfield with the captain's armband wrapped around his bicep, as it so often is, and it did not take him long to get his first assist of the afternoon.

Three minutes in, he laid the ball off to Callum Doyle, who fired in a beautiful strike from 25 yards to open the scoring for Norwich. The goal was spoken about for the strike rather than the simple assist, but McLean will definitely add it to his tally regardless.

Watford equalised, and it looked as though the sides were going to go into the break on level terms. That was until McLean popped up with his second assist, and this was one of the finest assists in the EFL across all games this weekend. The midfielder picked the ball up well within his own half and quickly sent a long, direct ball to Borja Sainz who took it down well and slotted it past the goalkeeper.

That goal before half-time changed things for the Canaries as they ended up winning 4-1 at Carrow Road. The Scotland international bossed the middle of the park all afternoon, and walked away with two assists.

As mentioned, it was a tough summer for Norwich, but it was almost made even tougher when it looked as though Kenny McLean could be departing.

In June, it was reported by the Daily Record, that Scottish giants, Rangers, were targeting the 32-year-old ahead of a potential summer move. McLean has previously admitted that he grew up a Rangers fan and that playing for them would be a dream, which would have rung alarm bells at Carrow Road.

However, nothing came of it as Rangers and McLean reportedly could not agree on the contract length. Then, Sheffield United came into the picture, as the Blades targeted the midfielder, as well as Swansea's Matt Grimes as midfield reinforcements.

Once again, nothing ever came of that interest, which was a huge blessing for Norwich. McLean's performance against Watford this weekend is a prime example of what he can bring in midfield for the Canaries, and they will be hoping he can be consistent with those performances over the course of the season.