As confirmed on the club’s official website, Norwich City playmaker Marco Stiepermann is closing in on a return to first-team football after he featured for the Canaries’ under-23s side on Friday.
Back in action! Here's our Under-23s XI to face Leeds United in #PL2 from 1pm today ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/P25zlRrcEf
— Norwich City Academy (@NorwichCityAcad) February 19, 2021
The 30-year-old has been out of action for the Canaries since December but is closing in on a return to first-team football.
Stiepermann was involved from the start in Norwich City’s under-23s game against Leeds United. Whites youngster Max Dean put Leeds’ second-string side ahead, firing home from a Cody Drameh pull back.
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With Stiepermann returning to the fold, it will be interesting to see when Daniel Farke looks to bring him back into the senior squad.
The attacking midfielder played an important role in their promotion to the Premier League in the 2018/19 campaign and will be hoping to have a similar impact upon his return.
Stiepermann netted 10 goals and laid on nine assists in Norwich’s last Championship campaign. With injury limiting his game time season, the German playmaker has managed to chip in with two assists and one goal in 14 league appearances.
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In the absence of Stiepermann, Mario Vrancic has come in to feature in attacking midfield. Lukas Rupp has also appeared further forward but Vrancic has been Farke’s go-to man in that role with Stieperrman out.
With Stiepermann nearing a return, it will be interesting to see if Farke continues to deploy Vrancic in attacking midfield or if he moves him out of the side to make way for the returning German.
