- Mattsson returned from eight-game absence to help create the winning goal
- Clement warns Norwich must “grow fast enough” to keep the Danish midfielder
- Win over Sheffield United extends Norwich’s run to eight wins in ten
Philippe Clement used Wednesday night’s 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United to deliver a message that went well beyond the final whistle: Norwich City must match Pelle Mattsson’s trajectory, or risk losing him.
The Danish midfielder returned from an eight-game absence with an ankle injury to come off the bench in the second half at Carrow Road, helping to create the winning goal as Norwich completed their third consecutive league victory.
Clement had confirmed pre-match that Mattsson had trained well over the last couple of weeks but would not be ready for 90 minutes.
But after being brought on to replace Sam Field on the hour mark, he delivered the kind of cameo that underlined why the 24-year-old has become so central to Clement’s plans. But the head coach’s post-match comments warned the club must “grow fast enough” to prevent the midfielder from outgrowing Carrow Road as he progresses.
On Mattsson’s return…
Mattsson had not played since sustaining that ankle injury during the 2-1 win over Coventry on January 26. Before that lay-off, he had been one of the Championship’s most impressive midfielders, accumulating 1,900 minutes with an average FotMob rating of 7.07, while forming a really effective partnership with Kenny McLean in the middle of the park.
Signed from Silkeborg IF on August 29, 2025, for an initial £2.7 million (rising to £3 million with add-ons), after City saw off competition from Portsmouth, Mattsson’s market value has already risen, possibly doubled. Clement praised the player’s “potential” and “true ability,” which he said had become increasingly evident since he took charge.
Players who perform at this level in the Championship attract attention… that’s life. Norwich supporters know all too well how this works because they have seen it happen before… many, many times.
On the Sheffield United turnaround…
The context for Mattsson’s return made it all the more significant. City were trailing at half-time after Jairo Riedewald volleyed Sheffield United ahead in the 21st minute.
Clement admitted his side was “maybe too much in a rush, too nervous” in the opening period. It was something he put right at the break, urging the players to calm down, and the second half was a different game.
Jack Stacey headed home the equaliser in the 68th minute from a Jacob Wright corner. Then, with six minutes remaining, substitutes Paris Maghoma and Amankwah Forson combined for the winner, Maghoma breaking forward and threading a pass for Forson to curl a left-footed finish into the top corner.
“In the second half, the reaction of the team was brilliant,” Clement said. “Very good football domination, taking these transitions out, creating a lot of chances, scoring two beautiful goals and managing the game also in the last minutes.”
On “growing fast enough”…
The win moved City to 48 points from 36 games, 15th in the Championship. Ten points clear of the relegation zone, nine off the play-offs. Under Clement, the club has won eight of its last ten league games, a run of form that has transformed a side that looked destined for a scrap at the bottom into one with genuine upward momentum.
Norwich are improving, of course, but barring a footballing miracle, will be playing second-tier football next season. A player of Mattsson’s profile, at 24, performing consistently in a team on the up, will not go unnoticed. Clement knows it.
The Belgian is essentially telling the club (and Ben Knapper) that the work off the pitch has to keep pace with what is happening on it.
With 14 or 15 players currently sidelined, City are still climbing, despite their current injury list. But depth and ambition are two huge items that need addressing, and the Belgian appears keen to discuss the latter now rather than wait until the summer.
Norwich host Preston North End today, looking to make it four wins on the bounce. Mattsson may yet have a bigger role to play.
Whether the club can keep giving him reasons to stay is the bigger question that Clement has now put on the table.
