Anis Ben Slimane’s World Cup is over. Philippe Clement’s decision is not.
Tunisia left the tournament after a difficult group stage, with Yahoo Sports reporting on the mood around their final defeat to the Netherlands in Kansas City. For Norwich City, the point is not to overanalyse Tunisia’s wider problems. It is to work out what Ben Slimane can give Clement now.
Pre-season is already moving quickly. Norwich have a new manager trying to fix his midfield, new signings trying to earn places and a West Bromwich Albion opener that will arrive before the squad feels fully settled.
Ben Slimane cannot return as a vague option in that picture. He needs a job.
Decide What He Actually Is
Norwich know the outline. Ben Slimane is a Tunisia international with Championship experience, and the club completed his permanent move from Sheffield United in January 2025 after an initial loan.
That is useful background, but it does not solve Clement’s problem.
Is Ben Slimane going to play as a No.8? Is he there to add height and legs in a more physical midfield? Can he be trusted to help Norwich control games from the start, or is he more valuable when matches open up?
Those questions matter because the midfield has changed. Sam Field’s arrival gives Clement a different type of player, and ReadNorwich has already looked at why the West Brom opener gives Field an immediate midfield deadline.
That also puts pressure on Ben Slimane. If Field is there to bring security, bite and Championship know-how, Ben Slimane has to show what makes him different. He cannot just be another tall midfielder in the group.
Manage The World Cup Load
The next issue is physical as much as tactical.
Ben Slimane is not returning from a normal summer break. He has had tournament football, long travel, pressure games and a disappointing exit with Tunisia. That does not make him unavailable. It does mean Clement has to be careful with the first fortnight back at Colney.
There is a balance to strike. Norwich need him sharp enough to compete for a place, but not pushed into chasing fitness in a way that costs him later. That is where good pre-season management matters.
Clement should not judge him purely on Tunisia’s results. Tournament football can make good players look ordinary in poor teams. It can also expose habits that club staff need to fix quickly.
ReadNorwich previously argued that Ben Slimane’s World Cup response could give Clement a useful summer marker. That marker is now live. Norwich have to assess how he returns, how quickly he adjusts and whether he looks ready to play with authority in Clement’s system.
Make Pre-Season Count
Norwich have enough games to find out.
The Carrow Road friendly against Osasuna stands out because it should feel closer to a proper test than a fitness exercise. ReadNorwich has already framed that game as a useful public check on Clement’s squad, and Ben Slimane should be part of that conversation if his condition allows.
By then, Clement needs more than a loose idea. He needs to know whether Ben Slimane can start in a balanced midfield, whether he is a bench option, or whether his best role depends on the state of the game.
That sounds cold, but it is how promotion teams are built. Players cannot be carried through August while their place is still being worked out. Norwich need clarity early, especially in central areas.
Give Him A Role Before West Brom
West Brom at home is not the fixture for guesswork.
Norwich will need control, second-ball strength and enough forward running to stop the midfield becoming flat. Ben Slimane has the tools to help with that, but only if his responsibilities are clear.
A sharp version gives Clement a useful lever. He can add size without giving up mobility. He can help Norwich move through pressure. He can make the midfield less predictable.
An uncertain version creates a different problem. Clement would then have to lean on safer combinations while the early-season hierarchy forms around him.
That is why Ben Slimane’s return matters. It is not just the end of a World Cup story. It is one of the decisions Clement has to get right before Norwich’s season properly starts.
