Norwich City would be nailed on for the play-offs if it wasn't for August flashpoint: View | OneFootball

Highlights

Flashback to August 26th 2023, and Norwich City are unbeaten in their opening four games of the Championship season, scoring 13 goals in the process, and then it all goes horribly wrong.

Josh Sargent had found the net three times in his first five appearances of the 2023/24 campaign as the Canaries came flying out the blocks under David Wagner, but after opening the scoring in their 4-0 victory over Huddersfield, the American striker was forced off with ligament damage.

A significant stretch on the sidelines followed for the 24-year-old - as he didn’t take to the field again until after Christmas, in which time his side’s fortunes had deteriorated.

A run of seven defeats in nine league games between September and early December saw the Norfolk-based side slip down to as low as 17th in the league table, with their main marksman’s absence more and more evident as the year went on.

Josh Sargent's return to action has Norwich City gunning for the playoffs

With the goals of Jon Rowe drying up and the not-so-prolific Ashley Barnes netting just five times this campaign, Sargent’s loss from the focal point of Norwich’s attack has left them playing catch up as we head into the final months of the season.

It certainly looks like Sargent and his team mates are up for the task though, with the USA international’s five goals in his last four matches helping the 2020/21 Championship winners make a march back up the league to sit outside the playoff positions on goal difference at time of writing.

In total it has been seven goals in ten games since the front man has returned to the first team, although he admits he is still having to handle the situation delicately after so long on the sidelines.

The Canaries would have been in the automatic promotion conversation if Sargent stayed fit

It begs the question just how Norwich would have fared if they had the services of their potent striker for the whole of the campaign, and what heights this current squad could have reached with someone of Sargent’s ability up top.

The performances towards the latter part of 2023 are unrecognisable to those of now; that 6-2 defeat on the road to Plymouth Argyle being the nadir of that particular run of form, as well as humbling defeats to Blackburn, Sunderland and Swansea.

Finding the back of the net hasn’t always been the issue this year for the men in yellow and green - with only four teams scoring more so far - but what Sargent also offers is boundless energy and enthusiasm up top, and in Wagner’s high-pressing style that is exactly the sort of player you need.

And at the business end of the field he is also producing the goods and finishing off all manner of chances, with 10 goals from an xG of 6.6 for the season, as per FBRef, Sargent is tucking away all manner of chances, although he’s also happy to oblige when it gets put on a plate for him like his opener in the 4-1 win against Cardiff City at the weekend.

These were chances that wouldn’t have been taken up while Sargent was spending his time on the treatment table, and that lack of clinical edge meant the Canaries lost ground on their promotion rivals; had he been on the pitch ready to pounce they could easily be in the conversation for automatic promotion as we reach the end of the season, let alone the playoff places.