Thorup keen to extend Lewis Dobbin’s Norwich City stay
Norwich City will explore a deal to bring Lewis Dobbin back to the club in the summer, boss Johannes Hoff Thorup has confirmed.
The winger is unlikely to play for the Canaries again this season after suffering a calf strain in their 1-1 draw against Blackburn, ending a loan spell that had begun to display real promise.
Dobbin’s pace provided City’s attacking play with balance, and his performances have created a clamour from supporters for him to return to Carrow Road in the summer either on another loan deal or a permanent basis.
Thorup shares those desires and revealed that City will hold talks with Dobbin’s representatives and parent club Aston Villa to try to extend his stay at the club.
“Of course,” Thorup said when asked if he’d like Dobbin to stay. “We have to wait and see what things will be going on this summer.
“For him, he could see that that he was developing, and he was doing it fast. He was actually doing very, very well here towards the end based on 10 games, which is positive. I think what he gave to the team in many ways was really positive.
“We will sit down with him and his agents and his people to go through if there are any opportunities for him to actually stay with us, continue, or be here on a loan spell next season. I think it’s realistic that we have those conversations.”
Dobbin will remain at Norwich to complete his rehabilitation and be around Thorup’s squad for the rest of his loan spell.
The calf injury at Ewood Park came just a week after the 22-year-old was substituted at half-time of City’s 4-2 win over Stoke as a precaution. That prompted questions about whether the injury could have been prevented – but Thorup explained why they’ve had to manage Dobbin with caution.
“He is a player where we know that he’s very explosive. So we need to take a little care of him because there’s a bigger risk with some of those players where that’s a part of their game, and that’s a part of their genetics.
