Norwich City forward Josh Sargent is poised to make his return to the squad as the Canaries prepare to face Brighton at Carrow Road. However, head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup has urged fans to exercise patience as Sargent works to regain his match fitness following a significant injury layoff.
The American striker has been sidelined since early November due to groin surgery, which has kept him out of action for 14 consecutive Championship matches. During his absence, Norwich have relied on younger talents such as Ante Crnac and other alternatives to fill the attacking void. Nevertheless, Sargent’s comeback comes at a fortuitous time, coinciding with a positive run for the team, who have secured three wins in their last four outings, despite a brief interruption for cup matches.
Thorup has indicated that while Sargent may not feature in the starting XI against Brighton, the club is adopting a cautious approach to his reintegration into the team. "We have been careful. The job that has been done with him has been really good and effective but it's not like we put him out there for one day and bring him into the team. It's been building up and following a very clear plan," Thorup explained.
He further emphasised the importance of a methodical return, stating, "Everything has gone well. We're not doing anything stupid here to put him on tomorrow. Then we would definitely not do it." This highlights the necessity of a gradual reintegration process to ensure Sargent’s long-term health and performance.
Thorup acknowledged the challenges players often face when returning from extended injury breaks, noting, "The expectation is always a little bit difficult for a player to just come in again after eight weeks and be able to perform on the highest level. That will probably take some time, but just knowing him as a person and his physical level, I think we can expect quite a performance already from the start. Of course, the last bit of it - the sharpness and the last details, that will take some games."
Sargent's imminent return has sparked optimism among Norwich supporters, particularly in light of Borja Sainz’s ongoing absence. Thorup remarked that Sargent’s involvement will foster healthy competition within the attacking line-up. "There are some players in some positions up front where they start thinking 'Now I have to be really on top again to make sure I can play,'" he noted.
"This is good. It is exactly how we want it to be. There's competition in the group and we have good players. We have different kinds of players who can cover that nine and the wing position in different ways. For everyone, it's very good news," Thorup concluded.
As reported by The Pink'un, supporters will be keenly observing how Sargent's return influences team dynamics as Norwich aim to maintain their recent momentum. With the right approach, Sargent's reintegration could prove pivotal in the Canaries' quest for success in the Championship.