NORWICH’S attacking midfielder Alex Pritchard picked up an ankle injury in pre-season that needed surgery, ruling him out of the first three months of the season.
It was a terrible blow for Pritchard but opened the door for the 20-year-old No 10 James Maddison.
And the youngster has not looked back.
He has had a fantastic season and has more than repaid the faith of boss Daniel Farke.
Maddison has now played ten league games and is dictating play for Norwich with his vision and passing skills.
The lad is a proper No 10 who sees angles and can unlock defences.
He is not particularly rapid but has the touch and class to put Norwich’s speedy players into dangerous positions with his through-balls.
He started out on Coventry’s books and made his first start as an 18-year-old.
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Boss Tony Mowbray was a fan who handed Maddison the No 10 shirt for the 2015-16 season.
In February 2016 Maddison joined Norwich on a three-year deal but was loaned back to Coventry for the rest of the season.
He then had a loan spell at Aberdeen before making his Norwich debut in April this year.
But it is this season that he has come of age. Maddison has scored two beauties.
He notched the game’s only goal at Middlesbrough last month, which won September’s Goal of the Month in the Championship.
And four days later he scored with a bending 25-yard free-kick in a 2-1 victory at Reading.
He was then nominated for the Championship’s Player of the Month award to cap a decent September.
The opposition are now trying to target him, thinking if they can stop him, they stop Norwich.
That is something he is going to have to deal with — but early signs are that he will cope admirably.
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