Garry Monk has expressed his disappointment and surprise following Norwich City’s decision to recall Vicente Reyes from his loan spell at Cambridge United. The move comes despite the young goalkeeper having made 23 appearances for the League One side at the Abbey Stadium during the first half of the season.
Reyes, 21, had recently found himself out of the starting lineup for Cambridge's last three matches, a situation that arose after a mistake in their Boxing Day defeat to Charlton. Prior to this, he had been a regular fixture under Monk, who boasts extensive managerial experience with clubs such as Leeds United, Swansea City, and Sheffield Wednesday.
Reflecting on Norwich's unexpected decision, which was announced just before their League One clash against Blackpool, Monk stated, "I wasn't expecting that at all. We can't control that, so we were a bit surprised by it. In football that's how it happens sometimes," as reported by The Pink’un. He went on to commend Reyes's contributions, saying, "For a young 'keeper he's done fantastic and he did particularly well to come into another step up for him (after Forest Green loan spell last season). Overall, he's handled himself well, and I'm sure Norwich will be thankful for the development with him. He's contributed really well, so it's a disappointment to see him go back."
Norwich's goalkeeping coach, Tony Roberts, is set to work closely with Reyes to monitor his progress as the summer approaches. However, it seems unlikely that Reyes will displace established first-team goalkeepers Angus Gunn or George Long in the immediate future.
Reyes joined Norwich from Atlanta United in June 2023, following a comprehensive scouting process that underscored his potential. Alongside Reyes, Norwich also recalled young striker Ken Aboh from his loan at Stevenage due to limited playing time. The 20-year-old Aboh is expected to secure another loan opportunity later in January.
It is important to note that both Reyes and Aboh are cup-tied, having participated in earlier rounds of the FA Cup, which means they will not be available for Norwich's upcoming match against Brighton. This situation underscores the challenges clubs face in balancing player development with immediate team needs, particularly in a competitive league environment.