Opportunity knocks after Marcelino Nunez’s injury blow.
Marcelino Nunez’s injury setback couldn’t have arrived at a worse time for the Chilean or Norwich City.
The midfielder is expected to be sidelined for a matter of weeks through the hamstring concern that saw him withdraw from international duty over this break, but Johannes Hoff Thorup will confirm the severity of the issue at his press conference next week.
After emerging as a critical player within City’s system for perhaps the first time since his move from South America in 2022, it does feel like this injury setback is the latest example of Nunez’s lack of luck since arriving in Norfolk.
Thorup’s decision to push the midfielder into a more advanced area had seen him more involved in City’s phases of attacking play and form a key part of their press. Nunez has looked at home within the Dane’s structure and was beginning to tick prior to this setback.
As soon as knowledge of Thorup’s style of play began to filter through in Norfolk before his appointment, Nunez was considered one of the big winners of managerial change.
But Nunez’s form throughout 2024 has been consistent and quietly building, even under David Wagner.
His first performances were firmly in the shadows of Gabriel Sara, but he has stepped out since the Brazilian’s exit to Galatasaray in the summer and taken creative responsibility in his absence.
The subtle change to push Nunez up the pitch has unlocked his passing range and technical proficiency in an area that helps City convert encouraging spells of possession into real chances.
That change to inverting full-backs, coupled with Anis Ben Slimane’s arrival, has enabled Thorup to get Nunez into higher areas of the pitch rather than him forming a part of their deep build-up phases.
Given the current pause for internationals and another to follow in November, the likelihood is that Nunez’s absence shouldn’t see him miss as many games as would have been the case at differing stages of the Championship campaign.
But with Nunez sidelined, it is opportunity knocks for two City players in particular.
Oscar Schwartau and Amankwah Forson are the two likely candidates to hold the fort in Nunez’s absence.
Oscar Schwartau could be best-placed to replace Marcelino Nunez.
Oscar Schwartau could be best-placed to replace Marcelino Nunez. (Image: Daniel Hambury/Focus Images Ltd)
Both were additions during a window of change for City; in Schwartau, they acquired a target they felt wouldn’t have been attainable when Thorup arrived. When the situation arose, there was no hesitation in bringing him to Carrow Road.
Despite being only 18, Schwartau’s range and physicality have enabled him to show flashes of his capability in the Championship, although without consistency. Thorup is steadfast in his belief that the Dane will play Premier League football in the near future.
When watching Schwartau play, you sense a maturity beyond his years. If City can get him firing, he will rapidly become a significant asset.
The significance of the move to England, away from his family, at such a tender age is naturally going to require a period of adaptation. Norwich hope that process can be fast-tracked by their Danish contingent, including Slimane who worked Schwartau at Brondby previously.
Given Nunez’s shift of position closer to Sargent, perhaps Schwartau is the natural contender to succeed him. Thorup believes that the number 10 position is where he feels the teenager is best.
Schwartau’s cameo against Hull offered real encouragement and was arguably his best display in yellow and green.
A run in the team and an opportunity to play in a midfield, including Slimane, that is functioning with a greater level of cohesion could provide Schwartau with the springboard to ignite his City career. His pressing in the final third is a significant strength.
The other frontline candidate is Forson, who was dropped from the City starting XI after a difficult few performances that followed a dislocated shoulder in the Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace.
But it is undeniable that Forson has talent. That was displayed in cameos against Oxford and a standout performance in their cup victory over Stevenage evidence that.
City now need to discover a way to unlock that talent. Perhaps the best documentation of Forson’s situation was his performance against Sheffield United, in which he set up Josh Sargent cleverly before carelessly turning the ball over in the build-up to Oliver Arblaster’s equaliser.
That inconsistency speaks to the work that needs to be done to ensure more of that creativity is unlocked.
Amankwah Forson has had an understandably mixed start to life at Norwich City.
Amankwah Forson has had an understandably mixed start to life at Norwich City. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)
Norwich have monitored him for a prolonged period and beat a host of sides, including Anderlecht, to his signature in the summer. Their proposal for his development and regular opportunities in the Championship was a major selling point.
But there is recognition that he is somewhat of a project. The key to finding consistency in his efforts is the development of a structure that can carry his mistakes as well as his strengths.
Forson’s outings for Norwich have come in a deeper position, like Schwartau, the tactical change to extract his qualities in higher areas could be a useful solution. If City can get the Ghanaian in higher positions, any loss of the ball shouldn’t be as impactful.
Schwartau has spent the first week of the international period away with Denmark U19s, but will be back to prepare at Colney from Monday. Forson, meanwhile, has been handed somewhat of a head start after missing out on a place in Ghana’s squad.
Thorup, Glen Riddersholm, and his other staff will consider the best option as City travels to Narcis Pelach’s Stoke next weekend to help soften the blow of Nunez’s absence while ensuring the slick game model continues functioning efficiently.
It is a riddle that Thorup will have to solve, but it is a major opportunity for both Schwartau and Forson to try to nail down a starting berth in Nunez’s absence.
