Norwich City players out on loan - some hits and misses

What happens this coming weekend will determine not only clubs’ futures, but that of many players.

In Norwich City’s case, the difference between building a squad for another campaign in the Championship and one in the Premier League is a bit chalk and cheese. A young lad out on loan in League One, for example, might have had his rough edges polished for a tilt at the second tier… but the Premier League? Different kettle of fish altogether.

Clubs have to look at a player’s progress chart, with the aid of a crystal ball, to see where they are heading. And they also have to consider the financial aspects – do you keep a prospect and, if so, for how long? And if you sell him, when’s the best time?

It’s a bit clinical, but players are assets.

Abu Kamara has shone on loan at Portsmouth, helping them to the League One title. Is he ready for the Championship or the top flight? How significantly would his position change should City be promoted? (It’s perhaps advisable to insert the Jon Rowe clause in here, which tastes that, sometimes, something totally unexpected happens with a player, whose development skips a stage or two).

Abu Kamara - a hit at Portsmouth (Image: PA Images)

Kamara is perhaps the prime example of the delicate balancing act when it comes to loan players. City have had some successes in the past, but there have been failures along the way.

James Maddison: Signed from Coventry and loaned back to the Sky Blues before being sent to Aberdeen. Desperate to prove himself at Norwich, he convinced City boss Alex Neil not to send him out again. Had one excellent season before he was sold to Leicester for around £20m.

Ben Godfrey: Spent the first half of the 2017-18 season on loan at Shrewsbury, toughening him up for the rigours ahead, which included helping City into the Premier League. Joined Everton for £20m-plus in October 2020.

Jacob Murphy: Had six loans before returning for a season at City and then being sold to Newcastle for £12m. Newcastle have loaned him out twice – now he’s a regular.

The Murphy twins, Jacob, left, and Josh (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Josh Murphy: Played for Wigan and MK Dons before a couple of seasons back at Norwich. Signed for Cardiff – perhaps not the best career move – for £11m.

Onel Hernandez: Slightly different in that the Cuban looked to be out of favour at Carrow Road. Had loans at Middlesbrough and Birmingham in 2021-22 – wasn’t until David Wagner took over that Hernandez got more of a look-in. However, he’d probably be looking at the possibility of promotion with mixed feelings.

Bali Mumba: Mixed bag - went out on loan to Plymouth, helped them win promotion and was one of those players fans wanted back at Carrow Road, even though player and boss, Wagner, differed on his best position. Sold for £1m, which helped City buy Christian Fassnacht.

Todd Cantwell: Early career move to Fortuna Sittard was a development loan. When he went to Bournemouth in January, 2022, you sensed he was being given a shop window, with that ever-present question in the background about his relationship with his managers. It didn’t work and a year later he was sold to Glasgow Rangers – for a fee that was considerably less than City had hoped for at one stage of his career.

Carlton Morris: Came through the ranks at City but his style didn’t suit: had loans at Oxford, York, Hamilton, Rotherham (twice), Shrewsbury and MK Dons before being sold to Barnsley… and is now captain of Premier League Luton Town. Made just one appearance for Norwich.

Carlton Morris (Image: PA Images)

Harry Toffolo: Just the five loan clubs, before permanent moves to Millwall, Lincoln and Huddersfield. Now in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest. Didn’t start a senior game for the Canaries.

Adam Idah: Currently on loan with Celtic. Surprisingly, it is the first loan of his career – which has largely been spent watching the likes of Teemu Pukki and latterly Josh Sargent, while City waited for his potential to develop into something more. His future is most definitely filed under ‘uncertain’.