Norwich City: Johannes Hoff Thorup & David Wagner will share one Josh Sargent frustration | OneFootball

Norwich City's Josh Sargent is one of the most prolific strikers in the Championship, but his fitness issues have been frustrating for the Canaries.

It has been an incredibly inconsistent season for Norwich City in the Championship, but their faint play-off hopes are still alive heading into the final seven games of the campaign.

After parting company with David Wagner following their play-off defeat against Leeds United, Norwich appointed Johannes Hoff Thorup as their new head coach in the summer, and it is fair to say he has had a mixed first season at Carrow Road.

The Canaries are the second-highest scorers in the Championship, having netted 61 league goals this season, but the 54 goals they have conceded have restricted their progress up the table, and they have frequently struggled to turn positive individual results into prolonged spells of strong form.

A run of just one win in eight games prior to the March international break looked to have all but ended Norwich's chances of reaching the play-offs, but they gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a 1-0 home win over sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, with Josh Sargent's 92nd-minute winner moving them to within five points of the Baggies.

It was not the most inspiring of performances from the Canaries, and they were arguably fortunate to come away with all three points, but Sargent's late contribution further underlined his ever-increasing importance to Thorup's side.

Thorup will be delighted to have Sargent back fit and firing for the run-in after his absence earlier in the season, but the Dane will surely be wondering what might have been if the US international had been available for the entire campaign.

David Wagner and Johannes Hoff Thorup will both have Josh Sargent regret

Sargent joined Norwich from German side Werder Bremen for a fee in the region of £8 million in the summer of 2021, and while his first season at Carrow Road in the Premier League was disappointing, he has certainly found his form in the Championship.

The 25-year-old scored 16 goals in 30 appearances last season to help the Canaries to a sixth-placed finish under Wagner, and that was despite missing over four months of the campaign with an ankle injury.

Given that Norwich finished a huge 23 points behind second-placed Ipswich Town last season, it may be a bit of a stretch to suggest that they could have achieved automatic promotion had Sargent remained fit all season.

However, Sargent scored three goals in his opening four appearances last term before sustaining his ankle injury, during which time the Canaries picked up 10 points from a possible 12, and given the significant improvement in form after his return in January, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Wagner's men could have mounted a top two challenge if he did not have such a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Sargent's strong form continued into this season as he scored four goals and provided five assists in his first 12 games, but his campaign was once again disrupted as he was forced to undergo groin surgery in early November, which ruled him out for over two months.

Since making his comeback in January, Sargent has been in the best form of his Norwich career, scoring nine goals in his last 13 appearances, and while Thorup's men may yet secure a play-off place, they would surely be guaranteed a place in the top six had the striker been available for the whole season.

Norwich City may never feel the full benefit of prolific Josh Sargent form

Norwich will still be optimistic that they can make a late-season surge towards the play-offs, but with tough games against the likes of Sunderland, Burnley, Millwall and Middlesbrough to come before the end of the campaign, it will be a tall order for them to make the top six.

Sargent's future has frequently been the subject of speculation in recent years, and he has again been linked with a reunion with former Canaries manager Daniel Farke at Leeds United in the summer, while Everton and Nottingham Forest are also believed to be keeping tabs on him.

The striker is under contract at Carrow Road until the summer of 2028, but he set alarm bells ringing among Norwich supporters during the recent international break when he seemingly opened the door to a potential summer exit.

"I think there will be a few options this summer if something were to happen," Sargent told the Guardian last month.

"It's a decision that me and my wife are gonna have to make together, and whatever makes the most sense for our family, as well as my career."

Sargent clarified his comments after the victory over West Brom on Saturday, insisting that he is happy at the club and refusing to rule out staying beyond the summer, but it is widely thought that he will leave if the Canaries miss out on promotion, particularly as he will be determined to cement his place in the USA squad for the upcoming World Cup in his home country in 2026.

His departure would undoubtedly be a huge blow for Norwich, and while Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims the club will demand €15-20 million for their talisman, it will be incredibly difficult to find a replacement of similar quality.

Should Sargent move on in the summer without achieving promotion, the Canaries may feel that they have not made the most of having such a prolific striker on their books, and there will be plenty of frustration that injuries have prevented him from reaching even greater heights during his time at the club.