Norwich City: Borja Sainz shouldn't be cast as the saviour

The Spaniard's firm finish was the most memorable and tangible positive Canaries fans left Craven Cottage with after Wednesday's 2-1 Carabao Cup loss to Fulham. It gave David Wagner a sign of squad depth he's lacked throughout the season. It even renewed hope that City's season could get back on track this weekend.

What it should not do is create assumptions that Sainz will be the saviour of the season at Carrow Road.

It's understandable that supporters are looking for a chink of light after several gloomy weeks in the world of yellow and green. After injuries to key players, diminishing tactical coherence and a 6-2 drubbing, something has to change in NR1.

But that weight can't be placed on the shoulders of a single man, especially not one undertaking a great deal of adaptation.

Sainz is, after all, a 22-year-old new to English football and returning from nearly three months of ankle injury with a new team. David Wagner has praised the strides already made, but that doesn't change after one goal against a cruising Fulham side.

The pacy winger proved his credentials with relegated Giresunspor, claiming 13 goal contributions in the 2022-23 campaign. He has experience in La Liga with Alaves and is a youth international.

He made clear in West London why he's been recruited, and why he suits the German's system so well. High pressing and energy have always been present in his game, but they made even more sense in the context of City's counter-attacking system.

The hope that one man can turn things around for Wagner is a low-percentage aspiration, however, and should be approached with caution. How many new Norwich signings have been portrayed in a similar light, and failed to achieve their mission?

Steven Naismith couldn't step up to the plate in 2016, nor Marley Watkins the following year or Yanic Wildschut shortly before him.

How successful were Mathias Normann and Isaac Hayden as single-handed solutions, or Milot Rashica as the Emi Buendia replacement?

Even Dean Ashton was unable to keep Nigel Worthington's group up despite his sensational five months in 2005.

Yanic Wildschut and Marley Watkins: cautionary tales. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

History shows how difficult the role of knight in shining armour can be in football, and that's beyond just The Fine City.

To expect this of Sainz is also to let many of the club's previous stars off the hook. It's to allow the likes of Gabriel Sara and Jonathan Rowe to abdicate the responsibility they bravely adopted early this season.

Josh Sargent and Ashley Barnes' absences have undoubtedly affected their team, but several key men have retained their places and not their form.

Injuries to those strikers don't explain Sara's loose work on the ball, or Jack Stacey's defensive shortcomings in recent weeks. Christian Fassnacht went off the boil after the 1-0 win over Stoke, and Shane Duffy was a shadow of his former self at Home Park.

Sainz adds something different to the mix, but will only reach his full potential at Norwich if he's working with players consistently playing at their best.

City's key early-season players must kick on again. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

That's why the burden to get Norwich back on track is a shared one amongst an experienced and capable Championship squad. The Fulham performance meant starting places are no longer guaranteed for the old guard.

Wagner has confirmed that Sainz will be involved against Birmingham this afternoon, and it is certainly good news that City's marquee summer signing is in the mix again. He'll provide a dangerous option in his first Championship matchday squad.

But piling all the pressure on one man does no good for anybody, and he's one of many players responsible for turning things around.