On-loan Norwich City striker Sydney van Hooijdonk featured in a 2-1 Premier League Two defeat against Reading’s Under-21s on Monday.
The 24-year-old, who joined the Canaries on January transfer deadline night from Serie A club Bologna, was one of seven regular first teamers who featured at Aldershot, after being on Championship duty at Stoke.
The Dutch forward, who made his seventh substitute appearance for David Wagner’s play-off hopefuls in the Potteries, played the full 90 minutes at the EBB stadium as a permitted over-age player.
Van Hooijdonk, Liam Gibbs, Danny Batth and Kellen Fisher were all starters for Alan Neilson’s squad, following second half action in the 3-0 Championship win at Stoke.
Teenage defender Waylon Renecke was also involved, after being an unused substitute at the weekend.
Wagner did indicate on Saturday evening he planned to use a Royals’ development test to get minutes into first team players at the start of the international break.
Experienced keeper George Long, along with recent first team debutants Ken Aboh and Finley Welch, were also in the travelling Canaries’ starting line up.
Welch punished Reading keeper Harvey Collins with a composed finish from outside the box to draw City level in first half stoppage time, after Adrian Akande had put Reading in front.
Akande then turned provider for Jayden Wareham to seal the win in the 64th when he latched onto Ben Purcell’s header to raid down the left before Wareham despatched his cross at the far post.
Reading were hammered 7-1 in Premier League Two recently but went into Monday night’s game five places and four points above Norwich.
Van Hooijdonk's best sighter on the night came in the 52nd minute when he produced a smart stop from Collins.
🗣️ Alan Neilson reflects on tonight’s defeat to Reading. pic.twitter.com/0B5PZ5wGOI
— Norwich City Academy (@NorwichCityAcad) March 18, 2024
City chief Wagner recently outlined the loan striker needed to improve his fitness, after a bit-part role in Italy prior to his mid-winter switch.
"I think tactically he is a smart guy," he 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."
Long was pressed into service two minutes in when he thwarted Akande after a clever switch from Wareham.
Gibbs' free kick was easily claimed by Collins before Royals' dangerman Akande rifled an angled finish past Long from Wareham's initial header.
Aboh had a shot blocked, following probing work from Fisher. Long was down smartly to gather at the feet of Mamadi Camara in the 28th minute, before Fisher kept out Wareham's effort on his line with the home side carrying the greater attacking threat.
Welch, however, sent the Canaries in level at the break after a defensive howler from Collins to lift a long range strike into the empty net.
The unmarked van Hooijdonk could have put Norwich in front in the 52nd minute, but Collins superbly clawed out the Dutchman's half-volley diving to his right.
Renecke's positioning had to be spot on minutes later, after Akande and Matthew Carson sliced Norwich open down the left before Camara's goalbound shot was blocked by the youngster.
But the impressive Wareham timed his run into the Norwich box perfectly from Reading's next attacking foray to slot Akande's cross from close range.
Aboh unleashed a shot that brushed the side netting in the 66th minute after he squared up Louie Holzmann.
Gibbs went into the book in the 77th minute following a tangle with Carson. Akande could have doubled his personal tally a minute from the end of normal time but his cross-shot was blocked for the hosts.
Reading U21s: Collins, Ryan, Carson (Clarke, 81), Strickland, Holzman, Senga-Ngoyi, Akande, Purcell (Barough, 75), Wellens, Camara (Okine-Peters, 75), Wareham. Subs (not used): Norcott, Borgnis.
Bookings: Akande, Carson
Goals: Akande (18), Wareham (64)
Norwich City U21s: Long, Fisher (McIntosh, 88), Renecke, Batth, Wilson, Gibbs (Duffy, 88), Manning, Lima, van Hooijdonk, Aboh, Welch. Subs (not used): Craven, Riley, Brooke.
Bookings: Gibbs, Renecke
Goal: Welch (45)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here