Norwich City have a potential Emi Buendia-esque star emerging at Carrow Road: View | OneFootball

Norwich City are having a good season so far on the whole.

They started the season as one of the best teams in the league, winning four of their first six games and looked to be a real force to be contended with.

Then came a big dip in form, with many calling for manager David Wagner to be sacked after a run where the Canaries won just once in nine games. But Wagner managed to turn it around, with Norwich losing just one of their last six games. This form has put Norwich in the race for the play-offs.

One player who has been impressing recently has been Borja Sainz.

Borja Sainz who scored his first goal for Noriwhc in the League Cup v Fulham is available to play against Leeds.

Sainz made the move to England from Turkey, signing from Giresunspor, who were relegated from the Turkish top flight last season.

The 22-year-old joined on a free transfer, and signed a three-year-deal.

Sainz has taken his time to adapt to English football and the physical demands of the Championship, which Norwich and Wagner were aware he would need. He said upon his signing: “When I spoke with him you could really feel his desire to come in and make an impact. He is hungry to prove himself and exactly the kind of player we want to have in our group.”

Sainz has just done that. He failed to make an appearance until late September, scoring on his debut off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Fulham in the EFL Cup.

He then picked up a knock in an U21 game which kept him out for a few weeks in October, and from there, it was mainly appearances off the bench for Sainz, in order for him to build up his match fitness and get him used to football in England.

Over the busy Christmas period, when teams usually need to flex their squad depth with so many games in quick succession, was when Sainz started to get regular starts.

It was on his first start that he showed immediately his ability, scoring and assisting in a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Since then he has been getting better and better and has excelled, scoring two in his last three games. A consolation, but a brilliant strike from 30 yards against Liverpool, and then the winner against Coventry City

Sainz’s passing in particular has been impressive in midfield for Norwich, showing great vision. He ranks highly, too, having an 89% pass accuracy.

Sainz is starting to show similar qualities to that of Norwich icon, Emi Buendia.

Whilst he's a long way off achieving what the Argentine did at Carrow Road to earn himself a move to Aston Villa, there are similarities there that do get the mind racing.

Buendia excelled for Norwich in the Championship a few years ago.

He spent three seasons at the club, spending two of those in the Championship. In his first season, he scored eight times and assisted a further 17, and in his third season (second in the Championship), he would score 15 goals and assist 16.

Whilst Sainz has taken a lot longer to get going in East Anglia than Buendia, Sainz has started showing the same flair, creativity, and almost maverick qualities that Buendia shined at Carrow Road with.

Early days for Sainz, but he will be key for rest of the season

Whilst it will be Jonathan Rowe who will be taking the plaudits, Sainz deserves some enormous credit.

Whilst Sainz has only been showing this good form consistently for around a month, he is only going to get better and better.

Rowe has been Norwich’s best player this season, scoring 12 goals so far from the right wing.

But with Josh Sargent having come back from injury and already firing again, add in Sainz’s magic on the left wing and you have a front three that other Championship teams should be frightened of.

Norwich are a team you should watch out for as the season goes on - as we could even see them make the top six if Sainz carries on his form.