Diallang Jaiyesimi has the talent to break through at Norwich City – if he's given the opportunity to show what he can do.

Norwich Evening News: Reece Hall-Johnson, front left, with his fellow FA Youth Cup winners in 2013. Picture: Denise BradleyReece Hall-Johnson, front left, with his fellow FA Youth Cup winners in 2013. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Archant 2013)

That is the view of the Canaries' 2013 FA Youth Cup winner Reece Hall-Johnson, who was playing alongside the 20-year-old attacker at League Two side Grimsby Town last season.

Jaiyesimi made 35 appearances for the Mariners but just 10 were league starts, as a battle to avoid relegation from the Football League limited his loan chances.

'I think DJ has got a huge amount of ability and he should definitely have an opportunity of playing first team at Norwich, it's just whether he's given the opportunity to show his talent,' said right-back Hall-Johnson.

'I got on really with DJ, I knew him before I left Norwich, and I spoke to him a few times about how Norwich works, it's obviously different at every club. I think he understands what he needs to do and I believe he will play in the future.'

Jaiyesimi was handed a new contract by City in November, extending his terms until 2020 with the option of a further year, so has time on his side to target a more successful loan.

'I think if DJ had have played more he would have really showed his talent, stayed in the team and done really well for Grimsby but with the form we were in at points it was really difficult to bring a young kid in at times,' Hall-Johnson added.

'But that's the opportunity you need in football and I think he deserved it, I think he should have played more.'

It was also a big season in the career of Hall-Johnson, becoming a regular at Grimsby after spells in none-league to see new boss Michael Jolley trigger the one-year option in his contract.

'I'd missed a lot of pre-season but doing well (on loan) at Chester helped me to get into the team at Grimsby,' said the 23-year-old, who started at City as an under-11 but was released in 2016 after just one League Cup appearance.

'When I came into the team at the end of the season it was just all about picking up points, so at times it was stressful because we didn't want to go down but it worked out okay in the end.

'The new gaffer, I think he really liked me and thinks it will be a good season for me next season, so hopefully I can be in the team and stay in the team.'