Anis Ben Slimane has work to do to become Norwich City’s Championship enforcer.
The Canaries sealed a deadline day loan deal with a buy clause for the Sheffield United midfielder.
The 23-year-old Tunisian international made an immediate impact in an eyecatching second half debut in the 1-0 league win at Coventry prior to the international break.
Now Danish head coach, Johannes Hoff Thorup, is on a mission to get Slimane up to speed after only four starts in the Premier League last season for the Blades.
“For us, he needs to be a player that can play 35 games, 40 games in a season. And so far in his career, he hasn't done it,” said Thorup. “So of course, we have to prepare him for that. We have to develop him for that, because that is what is needed with a player like him in his position in the team.
"I spoke to him (on Thursday), because there's some areas of his physicality and his game where we can improve it. His debut was a good step, and it was a good performance. But again, good things take time.”
Slimane is one of the new faces who have had a fortnight to integrate into Thorup’s squad during the domestic pause ahead of Saturday’s Championship return at Swansea City.
“It was important for us to go into detail with some of the new players. And fortunately, they were here so we've had some very good sessions, a little bit more individually based, a little bit more individual focused, compared to when everyone is in,” said Thorup. “Some really, really good days where we could go into detail with a lot of stuff.
“The international break is not one big vacation for the ones not on international duty. We spend the days just like a normal day, with preparation and feedback to the players that are in the building.
"But what is important for them and for us is that we actually now have even more time to take care of 10, 11, 12 players and spend time after the sessions as well. So it's hopefully been well spent for us and for the players.
“As coaches these natural breaks allow us to discuss the first league games, and also the cup games, and just look at them in terms of data, style of play and where are we? What can we expect from the next games?
"Just to have some reflection on what we have done so far and how we have performed and so on. It’s okay once in a while to have these small breaks.”
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