Jovon Makama is on the fast-track to the very top for Philippe Clement, but the Norwich City boss wants common sense to prevail around his fit-again striker’s landmark England Under-21 call.
Makama sealed the midweek 4-0 Championship romp at Derby with a stunning hit to take another big step forward after seven months out with foot injuries.
Clement has taken a no risk strategy with the 22-year-old’s return to frontline service, but Makama was drafted into his first Young Lions’ squad earlier on Friday ahead of prestige friendlies against Portugal and France.
“I'm happy for the recognition,” said Clement. “I'm worried also because he's still not there yet where he needs to be.
"We're still managing that day by day, with days off his feet also, with playing minutes, but we will have good contact with the national team, and I know they also work in the best interest for the players, and they want Joff fit also towards the tournament they they're going to play in the summer.
“It's still managing him, and he's not there yet that we can freely let him train one week and let him play a lot of minutes. He's not there yet, so I hope that that is going to be managed in the national team.
"The positive thing is there are several people in this building who know people in national team really well, so I'm really confident that we can manage that story together.”
Makama grabbed his chance under Clement last season during a Josh Sargent transfer saga.
“He has massive, massive possibilities, but nobody made a career out of potential,” said the City boss. “There are so many things that needs to be right, and it starts with physical abilities and how his body reacts to load and games and everything.
"So it starts with that, and we're working hard on that after the two injuries he had before. For me now the first step to get him two months that he can train without any problem, and then we can start to speak about potential for the future.
“But that I believe in his qualities was really clear from the first moment that I came in, or the first weeks that I came in, because that moment the situation with Josh happened, and I saw a lot of people in the building, and fans and people who have a big heart for Norwich, starting to panic because your top striker who scores the goals, and you didn't score many goals that moment, was out.
"There was a young lad that was the only one in the building, but I had full belief that Joff would take over that position, and would do really well and score a lot of goals. The belief was there from the beginning.”
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