- City must break their perennial left-back curse to secure a promotion.
- Injuries plague Chrisene and Mahovo despite their obvious defensive talent.
- Success depends on making them robust enough for the Championship.
I don’t know what Norwich City have done to upset the football gods, but the club’s annual left-back crisis seems to have persisted for the past five or six years.
In 2020/21, it was midfielder Jacob Sorensen forced to step in after injuries to Dimitris Giannoulis and Xavi Quintilla.
In the years since, managers have turned to the ever-reliable Kenny McLean in times of need, which seems to be every season.
The club’s two current left-backs – Ben Chrisene and Lucien Mahovo – have both been hampered by injuries throughout the campaign, with Kellen Fisher filling in when required.
There is no denying that City’s left-back woes will need to be solved ahead of next season in order to mount a serious promotion push.
You can only play right-backs and midfielders there so often before it becomes unsustainable.
Some have suggested that a new left-back should be brought in ahead of next season, but with two talented players already on the books, is that really necessary?
Why the club should stand by Ben Chrisene and Lucien Mahovo
With Chrisene now set to undergo surgery on a shoulder injury, fans in some quarters have decided that a new left-back should be a top priority over the summer.
Any manager will agree that having as much depth as possible is vital, but carrying three out-and-out left-backs probably isn’t a route sporting director Ben Knapper wants to go down.
I’ve seen enough from Chrisene and Mahovo to think that both are more than good enough for a Championship promotion push if fit.
That ‘if’ is, clearly, the key bit.
If both players can get a full Philippe Clement pre-season under their belts, there is no doubt in my mind that they can share left-back duties between August and next May.
In his media round last November, Knapper admitted that an unsatisfactory pre-season put the players on the back foot ahead of the new campaign.
High ceiling for Mahovo
You can bet your bottom dollar that those mistakes won’t be made again under Clement’s watch.
Speaking about Mahovo on the recent Along Come Norwich podcast, former assistant head coach Glen Riddersholm said: “For me, Lucien’s ceiling is amazing.
“The problem now is all his injuries and I don’t know why because I know the guys there in the performance department try to do everything because his ceiling is really high.
“When I look back at all the players I have been able to develop for Premier League, Serie A or La Liga, he can really make it if he gets a sustainable period of more years.”
There is no doubt that our two current left-backs have the talent, but now it’s about making them robust enough for a full season of Championship football.
