Mo Toure has expressed his enthusiasm for the progress he is making as a striker under Norwich City manager Philippe Clement, highlighting the Belgian coach's pivotal role in refining various aspects of his game. Since joining Norwich in January, Toure has made a notable impact, scoring five goals in his first five matches before a groin injury interrupted his momentum last month. Read more about Bridge Nets First Senior Goal as Cork City Triumph.
As Toure looks to make a comeback during a demanding Easter fixture schedule, Norwich find themselves relying on Mathias Kvistgaarden as their only available striker. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old remains optimistic about his future contributions to the squad.
Norwich's interest in Toure stemmed from his impressive combination of pace and strength. However, the Australian international is dedicated to broadening his skillset and avoiding a one-dimensional playing style. He credits Clement for helping him become a more unpredictable player. "It's something my previous coaches have been talking to me about to add to my game to become more unpredictable," Toure explained on the Not the Top 20 podcast. "A lot of the time, the defenders expect the ball to go in behind them. If I can just come to feet and link up, it'll make them think a bit." Read more about McLean's Scotland Fall to Japan in Narrow Defeat.
Clement’s guidance has been crucial in Toure's development. The striker noted, "Philippe was talking to me before the Oxford game to try to change it up sometimes, and it worked well," emphasising his focus on becoming a more adaptable forward. "I still play within the principles of the team. I just feel like I have to learn how to find the balance a little bit better." Read more about Jones Signs New Deal as Norwich Secure Striker's Future.
Few anticipated Toure's rapid adaptation to English football. Norwich intensified their pursuit after a transfer for Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh fell through, and Toure has risen to the challenge, despite Clement's assertion that he is a player for the future. His immediate impact was highlighted by a remarkable hat-trick against Oxford United.
Clement and his coaching team have provided Toure with valuable insights, utilising video analysis of elite strikers such as Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku to demonstrate effective positioning and scoring tactics. "Even going to the second game on the team bus, he kind of pulled me close to him and he would show me a few clips of Haaland and Lukaku, just how they positioned themselves in the box," Toure recounted. "So just to execute that straight away in the next game, it felt amazing because I know his information is working and I keep learning from him."
The hat-trick at the Kassam Stadium marked not just a personal achievement for Toure but also played a vital role in helping Norwich distance themselves from Oxford in the league. Reflecting on his goals, he noted satisfaction with the tactical execution of the team's strategy. "The first and third goals are the more natural ones because they involve more sprinting, and a lot of the time, my goals are sprinting goals because of my pace," he said. "The second one was probably one of my favourites because it was one that the coach talked to us about before the game."
With the World Cup approaching, Toure is eager to return to action as swiftly as possible, recognising his importance to Norwich under a coach who is invested in his potential. "We have a coach that believes in us, and he's hard on us, but in a way that he wants us to improve," Toure stated. "It's just amazing and I couldn't ask for anything better."
As he prepares for his return, Toure remains committed to his growth at Norwich City, appreciative of the chance to contribute to a team with aspirations for success. "Coming to a new club, especially for strikers, we want to score and we always dream about our first goal, how it would be, and mine came very, very early in my first game. The feeling was just excitement," he reflected.