Norwich City currently have five players out on loan. Alex Neil will be hoping they can make their playing time useful and develop themselves in order to reach their potential. I take a look at how the loanees are finding life away from Carrow Road.
21-year-old Harry Toffolo is a young man with huge potential and has represented England at U18, U19 and U20 level. After loan spells at Rotherham and Peterborough last season, Toffolo started 2016/17 with an appearance for the Canaries in the League Cup before signing on loan until January at Scunthorpe United. He featured regularly for the The Iron making eight appearances, but injury means he hasn’t played for the league-leaders since October.
French midfielder Tony Andreu is the oldest player out on loan at 28, but will be hoping to regain the form he showed at Hamilton Academical by scoring 25 goals in 58 games by signing on a season-long loan in the Scottish Championship at Dundee United. Andreu’s season started with Norwich in the League Cup against Coventry City and he then scored a hat-trick against Peterborough in the EFL Trophy. Andreu scored on his Dundee debut and has been successful so far in Scotland, bagging eight goals in 12 games.
Youngster James Maddison was signed from Coventry City in February and, like Andreu, will be hoping to impress in Scotland. Maddison may be 19-years-old, but has already made over 50 professional appearances after making his Sky Blues debut aged just 16. He made his Norwich debut in August in the League Cup and scored in the EFL Trophy before signing on loan at Aberdeen. He has been a regular for the Scottish Premiership side, making eleven appearances. Maddison also scored a 90th minute free kick against Rangers to win the game 2-1 for Aberdeen.
Declan Rudd is perhaps the most well-known loanee, having made his Norwich debut in 2009. Despite making 14 appearances for the Canaries last campaign, Rudd was loaned to Charlton Athletic and has been ever-present in goal at The Valley. The former England U21 international has already made 19 appearances and has safely secured the number one spot.
Another goalkeeper on loan, and again in Alex Neil’s native Scotland, is 22-year old Remi Matthews. Last season saw Matthews make his professional debut as he enjoyed loans at Burton Albion and Doncaster Rovers. Now at Hamilton Academical until the end of the season, Matthews was gaining valuable playing time with 13 starts in goal but unfortunately injury has put him on the sideline.
