Daniel Farke was just happy his ‘little warrior’ Onel Hernandez returned to Norwich in one piece after an unforgettable international break.
Hernandez made his long-awaited debut for Cuba but had to navigate his way through a volcanic ash cloud to arrive midway through a World Cup qualifier in Guatemala.
“He spent more time in the air than on the ground,” joked Farke. “The most important topic he returned safely, without injury, healthy and in a good mood because it was a proud moment for his family.
"But when I followed his journey I was unbelievably concerned. More or less four days in the air, then a bumpy flight in a small machine and he is worried if he even lands.
"Then he arrives at the stadium, gets changed and plays with no warm up. You fear a muscle injury but he is a little warrior and he came through it.
"Then in the next game he scores his first goal for his country. We are lucky it was the right outcome, even if I don’t think it was the right time for this game in the middle of a pandemic.”
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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