Harry Toffolo could prove the answer to Norwich City’s left-back void – all one Canaries past master wants to see is him given a chance.
City’s summer recruitment work has a left-back arrival on the list, especially after opting against an expensive permanent move for last season’s loanee from Ajax, Mitchell Dijks.
However City also have Toffolo back from his season on loan at League One play-off outfit Scunthorpe United plus highly-rated 19-year-old Northern Ireland Under-21 international Jamal Lewis.
Both academy products could offer a test of how City’s philosophy over their youngsters will play out next term, under new head coach Daniel Farke.
And former captain, title-winner and left-back stalwart Adam Drury believes the key is giving them a chance to shine.
“I’d imagine the recruitment is going on now and they’re looking at what’s out there, and budget is going to play a big part in what they do,” said Drury.
“At the same time, pre-season will hopefully see Harry get a fair crack. He’s been loaned out and at some point he has to be tested here. If he hits the ground running, then anything can happen. He could make the place his own.
“He did himself justice in pre-season a couple of years ago. He’s got experience in league situations now. It reminds me of when I was at Leeds. Two right-backs got injured and a lad called Sam Byram came in. He was in the youth team at the time, came over and trained with us a couple of times and then got in for a pre-season friendly.
MORE: Norwich City captain Adam Drury on his decade at the Canaries
“From then he went from strength to strength. He got in the first team for the first game of the season, and two years later he ended up with a move to the Premier League with West Ham.
“That was purely off the back of right time, right place, coming in and showing what he could do. I think that’s no different here. If you’re Harry and you get a chance to play, just go out and do the best you can.
“You can’t really worry too much about whether the club is going to get another left-back. Every summer it happens, whether you’re a young lad or senior pro. People are always looking for better players; it’s part and parcel of the game.”
While City will look for more left-back cover Drury is expecting the Huddersfield model that proved so successful last season to now get a go at Carrow Road, under the Terriers’ former football chief and Norwich’s new sporting director.
“Every head coach is different,” added Drury. “He could come in and say your age doesn’t matter. If you’re good enough, you’re playing – no matter what age you are.
“And if you look at Stuart Webber, coming from Huddersfield, they had a lot of young lads in that side. Plenty of unproven lads they brought in and they’d done their homework on.
“I don’t imagine it will be any different here. If Harry or whoever does well in their position, then there’s nothing to say you’re not going to be a regular and play. It’ll be the same for everyone and a clean slate for all the lads.”
• For all the latest Norwich City news and opinion follow Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey and Facebook @mbjourno
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