Norwich City: Nottingham Forest's Hwang Ui-Jo aims to shine

Hwang was a deadline night loan signing for the Canaries from Premier League Nottingham Forest, after it was clear Josh Sargent would be sidelined for the rest of this year.

The 31-year-old has yet to feature for the Reds, since his reported £4m move from Bordeaux in 2022, following a prolific spell in French football.

Hwang trained with his new team mates for the first time on Thursday, ahead of Stoke City’s Championship visit, after international action against Wales and Saudi Arabia.

City head coach David Wagner is convinced the forward will make his mark in green and yellow.

“He's a top, top striker,” he said. “A good record in Europe when he played in France, obviously in South Korea as well, and he likes to prove a point that he can do it in England as well.

“It's a little bit like the one or other signings we've done earlier in the summer; quality players who maybe had not the best season last season, but still have the hunger and desire to prove to everyone I'm better than what you've seen, or maybe think. From this guy everything I have seen so far is top.

"And this is exactly what drives us as a group. We all together, and the individuals as well want to show we are better than what we've done in the last season. This is maybe the energy which gels us and drives us on.”

Adam Idah and Ashley Barnes led the line at Rotherham, in the first league game since Sargent’s ankle injury at Huddersfield. But Hwang will not require time to bed in.

“We signed him because he is super fit,” said Wagner. “He had a full pre-season and was on the bench in the first Premier League home game for Forest, and now two games with South Korea as well, two 20 minutes where he looked very sharp and very aggressive.

“He is with us because he should, and he will, help us. How much and how quickly we will see. But we are very happy to have him with us. To be totally honest it will be very easy (to adapt).

"He made it clear that he was very, very excited and that he really wanted to make this move. He had a few other options, but he really wanted to come to us.

"And hopefully he made the right decision. Everything I've seen and heard about him really excites me that he is a handful.”

Idah was on target from the penalty spot for the Republic of Ireland, and started two Euro2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands over the past fortnight.

"He is in good shape. Hopefully he can keep his form on Saturday as well," said Wagner. "He played well. Good opponents, scored and he also played well for us in the previous games before the international break. We decided to back ourselves in the striker position with Ui-Jo as well after Josh's injury but I would say all the other internationals came back with a positive emotion.

"Dimi (Giannoulis) had an assist. Kenny (McLean) played in Scotland’s very important qualifying win over Cyprus. Gunny (Angus Gunn) played both games for Scotland. Tony (Springett), his first games for Ireland at Under-21 levels. Jon (Rowe) training with England’s Under-20s for the first time, and (Shane) Duffy captain of Ireland.

"Before training (on Thursday), when we had the whole group together for the first time, we congratulated them for what they'd done. But now it's all about us, and the next game against Stoke, which is a very challenging game. A very interesting game again.

"We've only had two home games so far. A lot of away games and this is why all of us are very excited to go back to Carrow Road, where we have done quite well in the first two home games."