David Wagner says Sydney van Hooijdonk must improve his fitness to play a key role for Norwich City.

The Dutch striker arrived at Carrow Road on transfer deadline day to compete with Josh Sargent and Ashley Barnes, but has yet to make a single start for the Canaries more than a month on.

He's played a combined 73 minutes across five games since moving to England, occupying the status of clear third choice in the battle for game time on City's frontline.

The reason behind that, according to Wagner, is van Hooijdonk's failure to prove his fitness capabilities, with work still to be done to get up to speed.

"I think tactically he is a smart guy," the German said. "He knows what to do defensively, and how we like to get our striker into the game offensively as well.

"But to do so you have to have a certain fitness level. I've said not to put this boy under too much pressure, to give him time, because fitness-wise he has to improve, for sure.

"He has to adapt, he knows this, we know this. But I have a lot of trust and belief in him and my fitness department that in a few weeks he will be on the level to make a proper impact as well.

"What is important is that we're all on the same page. I've had the same conversation with him and the fitness department, we see where he has to improve, and this is what we will do."

The Bologna loan export can play with either of his fellow strikers, according to his boss.

"I've said to him that he can play with all of them," Wagner continued. "He can play with Gabby (Sara), with Barnesy, with Josh (Sargent).

"This makes no difference for me, because they are all smart and can occupy all the positions. We like to be quite fluid in this moment anyway.

"For this everybody has to have a certain fitness level, and this is a big advantage for the other three guys. They've had more or less a full season, a proper pre-season.

"They are capable to deliver another level fitness-wise, and we have to make sure that Sydney gets to this level as well."