Norwich City star Jonathan Rowe has admitted that he is “itching to get back” out onto the pitch as the Canaries have some difficult fixtures on the near horizon, including the East Anglian Derby.
David Wagner’s side have spent the vast majority of the 2023/24 campaign outside the play-off places and following a 3-1 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers, there were rumours that the board were meeting to decide the fate of the German in the Carrow Road dugout.
However, since the turn of the year, Norwich’s form has been simply superb. In fact, since January 1st, only current league leaders Leeds United have accumulated more points in the Championship than City, showing the team’s incredible improvement under Wagner.
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As a reward for this form, Norwich City are now inside the play-0ff places, sitting three points above Hull City, although the Tigers still have a game in hand. When the two sides met back in January, it was the Canaries who came out on top at the MKM Stadium with a 2-1 win.
Following a home game against Plymouth Argyle this Friday, the Norfolk-based club have some gruelling fixtures, including a game away at Leicester City and then a highly-anticipated derby clash with Ipswich Town.
In unprecedented circumstances, Norwich’s bitter rivals are fighting for the league title and so Wagner’s men will want to deal a crushing blow to the Tractor Boys. One man who could return to action for the clash is Jonathan Rowe.
Rowe was forced off with a hamstring injury during the side’s recent 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road back in February and hasn’t featured since. Nonetheless, speaking to Pink Un in a recent interview, the 20-year-old has stated that “everything is going to plan”.
“I’m in a good space. Everything is going to plan. We have to take it week by week and day by day, but that is what I am doing.
“Hopefully I can get back as soon as possible and start helping the team out again. I’m itching to get back,” he continued.
“Every night, I am thinking, ‘Is this done and over with yet?’. I want to be back tomorrow, but these things cannot be rushed.
“You have to think about the long term. You don’t want to mess up (your progress) by coming back too soon and then you’re out for longer.”
When asked about whether he could return for the match at home to Ipswich, Rowe remained coy on the possibility:
“It’s difficult to say. Everyone wants to be playing in that game and there were players who were out injured the last time we played them. Anyone can perform on the day and add their input. I’m hoping we can do the same regardless of if I’m playing or not.”
Writer’s View
Rowe is the joint-top goalscorer for Norwich City this season alongside Josh Sargent. The duo are locked on 13 goals apiece, although Rowe has more goal contributions than his American counterpart.
The youngster has been vital for Wagner and for the Canaries this term, so his injury came as a big blow. Thankfully, though, the side didn’t nose-dive in his absence and have been steadily ticking along. A return for the derby clash in two-and-a-half weeks would be a major boost for the club ahead of what will be an incredibly difficult game against the most prolific team in the Championship.
