NORWICH City have a reputation as a ‘yo-yo club’, but have been away from the Premier League for 3 years now.
But this year feels different, a great core packed with experience with some youthful talent leave them two points off playoffs and ever-improving as the season goes by.
Here are the key reasons why I think they are outsiders to return to the top flight.
Josh Sargent’s return
An injury in October required Josh Sargent to have groin surgery, keeping him out the side for two and a half months, a period which saw The Canaries struggle with a run of patchy form.
But the American striker has started the last three games now, scoring four goals and leading his team to a run of three unbeaten with two wins.
He is on eight goals for the season and is likely to achieve his third double-figure goalscoring season in a row.
They have the best player in the league
A controversial one considering the drama around him and the amount of talent the Championship has, but I believe that Borja Sainz is the best player in the division.
He is set to play tonight vs Preston North End after a six game suspension for a spitting incident, a run where Norwich went goalless in three of them.
The Spaniard has 15 goals and 3 assists in 26 league games, all from the left- wing!
He has also smashed in a hat-trick on two separate occasions!
it is obvious that Sainz is vital to the side, and if his performance levels are anything like they were pre-suspension, then there is no doubt Norwich will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
Johannes Hoff Thorup
Norwich have made exceptional stylistic progress this season under their manager Johannes Hoff Thorup.
The Dane is the youngest manager in the Championship this season and is possibly the most exciting manager, too.
He joined in the summer from Nordsjælland after an impressive record with the club including being runners up in the 2022-23 Danish Superliga campaign.
His deep build-up way of playing is the modern way of playing all the top Premier League clubs use, baiting the opposition press to progress up the pitch.
Achieving promotion this season could be imperative for Norwich to keep Thorup around, with other clubs no doubt having him on their radar.
