Norwich City: Wagner on Kellen Fisher impact and Bali Mumba sale

City’s top brass sanctioned a permanent return to Championship rivals Plymouth for League One’s young player-of-the-year, after his key role in the Pilgrims’ title success.

Norwich have since recruited Swiss international Christian Fassnacht, but it was the early summer signing of teenage full back Fisher who was a key part of the Mumba equation.

“He has impressed me, and impressed more or less everyone else in how calm he is on the ball,” said Wagner. “Yes, he has a lot of things to improve, but he looks 14 and plays like a 24-year-old in some situations.

"He's a very good talent. And this was one of the reasons as well, when we have such talent in our club who I think can improve, when you see how many steps he did in the first four and a half weeks can you imagine how many steps he will do in the next four and a half months? So this was another reason.

“We have Kellen in our thoughts as back-up for that position, we have a player like Lunghi (Jacob Sorensen), who is very, very capable in playing certain positions. I was not clear how much game time Bali would get.

“I appreciate he is a talent, he is one who came through the academy as well, but obviously if the offer is right, and to be fair, he wanted to move on as well, then I think it's more than fair to make this deal.”

Fisher was signed from Bromley to be part of the Canaries’ development set-up, but has pushed his senior claims in pre-season.

“He only came with us this summer because Max Aarons was away with England’s under 21s,” admitted the City chief.

“I knew the right backs which we had in the academy, and then Stuart (Webber) told me we signed a player-of-the-year for his previous club, but still a very young guy from non league and I said, ‘Come on, let him train with us in the pre-season. Why not?’

“The truth is in the weeks where Bali was with us in training he had shown his qualities and his skills. But the truth, as well, is that he sees himself more as a wing-back. And, obviously, we don't have the wing-back position.

"If we receive an offer that is right for us, and to be fair I also have to say part of this decision is how well Kellen adapted to our training regime, then it made sense.”