Ashley Barnes is expecting big things for Josh Sargent but is hopeful that Norwich City can keep him at the club despite links with a move away.

The American forward netted his second goal of the season in their 3-1 victory over Millwall on Sunday and has impressed in a front two alongside Barnes in the opening games of the season.

Links with a reunion with Daniel Farke have emerged during the week but Norwich would be unlikely to do business with a Championship rival at this stage of the window.

Barnes has backed the 23-year-old striker to make a significant contribution for Norwich this season and raved about Sargent’s talents after that eye-catching Millwall win on Sunday.

“He’s a special player. I keep telling him that he is so incredibly good. He doesn’t realise how good he is,” Barnes said post-match at Carrow Road.

“Hopefully, this year he can have a fantastic year. Who knows what he can be. He’s a phenomenal talent, and hopefully we can keep him beyond this window.”

Barnes was also on a scoresheet in a performance that displayed Norwich’s attacking fluidity and creativity.

David Wagner has coached the side to be able to score goals in numerous different ways and the contrast of individual styles has made them a more dangerous proposition.

Whether it is Barnes’ physicality, Sargent’s power or Gabriel Sara’s ingenuity – they have goals from all areas after struggling to find an attacking rhythm throughout last season.

Barnes believes the special ingredient behind that mix is the demands the players are placing on each other during training sessions.

The Pink Un: Ashley Barnes and Josh Sargent both got on the scoresheet as Norwich City beat Millwall 3-1 on Sunday.Ashley Barnes and Josh Sargent both got on the scoresheet as Norwich City beat Millwall 3-1 on Sunday. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

“That’s the good combination of our play. We can change formations throughout the games, and I heard them shouting at themselves because they didn’t know who to pick up, that is a credit to ourselves because we know how to get into those positions.

“It’s about setting high standards everyday and then when you do in training every day then it’s easy to do it on the pitch

“Everyone knows their job and their roles. Whether you are on the pitch or the bench, we need everyone and that’s the main thing I learned at Burnley. This league is relentless and you need everyone.”