King's Lynn 1-6 Norwich City: Paddy Davitt pre-season pointers

1. Headline news

A six-goal salvo for Norwich City against a game but outclassed King’s Lynn. Then David Wagner confirmed the real headline news had happened on Friday at Colney, with new summer signing Borja Sainz ruled out for three months with ankle ligament damage.

A cruel blow for player and new employer. Sainz brought that sense of freshness and genuine excitement factor within the Canaries’ overall transfer recruitment to this stage of the window.

A highly-rated, young winger with personal numbers in the Turkish Super Lig to outweigh any concerns at being part of a relegation season with Giresunspor.

Wagner had hinted after Barnet that Sainz was on track for his maiden appearance at The Walks.

His omission from the matchday squad list immediately triggered a queasy feeling, given it was at the same ground 12 months ago City confirmed Isaac Hayden was set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines following his much-vaunted move from Newcastle.

Sainz is expected to be back in the fold in 'eight to 10 weeks' but will need to reset and embark on his own mini pre-season to get up to speed.

It really is hard not to feel Norwich have been dealt another low blow. But Wagner also intimated at Barnet in that opening pre-season friendly the club were still in the market for another attacking option in wide areas.

That now becomes a pressing priority to dispel not only some of the deflation among the fan base but to equip Wagner with the same threat level Sainz suggested he could offer.

If nothing else those tasked with responding are well versed in facing adversity over the past couple of seasons.

2. Step on it, Stacey

In sharp contrast to the Sainz fitness bulletin, Jack Stacey showed further glimpses of his attacking ambition at The Walks.

Albeit a brace of pre-season run outs against non league opposition is a far cry from the stiffer examinations he will face defensively in the Championship, but it is appealing to see a full back so advanced.

There was an early buccaneering run in the 10th minute to show for Marcelino Nunez, and then the decisive repeat in the 24th minute when he made up Tony Springett’s mind with an overlap to whip a near post cross Ashley Barnes merely had to guide over the line.

With Max Aarons now a European Championship winner with England’s Under-21s there feels an inevitability about his eventual departure, once the party finishes and he perhaps enjoys a belated holiday.

Stacey will be his natural successor, with Bali Mumba’s versatility and the combative rawness of Kellen Fisher useful commodities in reserve.

Aarons was a free spirit in the early part of his Norwich senior career, in an attacking sense, before the Canaries’ Premier League struggles and, in Dean Smith, he encountered a head coach who demanded a more circumspect defensive approach.

But City fans should enjoy the sight of Stacey on the charge, if Wagner can get the balance right in and out of possession.

3. Suited and booted

A first view of the Barnes and Josh Sargent double act did not disappoint at the Walks. Three goals between them prior to the interval, before Burnley’s Championship title winner sealed his hat-trick early in the second period, following Mumba’s aggressive pressing.

In truth, not the opposition or the afternoon to reach any definitive conclusions. But Barnes’ nous and his experience inside the penalty area brought him two near post goals, and his presence of mind in the Linnets’ box rolled in Przemyslaw Placheta for the shot that was slotted by Sargent.

Barnes might not be easy on the eye for some purists, but he looks a mightily effective and efficient footballer.

There is an understanding of his craft from years at the coal face and a simplicity to his forward play that might ease any burden Sargent or Adam Idah feel in striving to pick up the mantle from Teemu Pukki.

It was noticeable only Barnes re-emerged at the interval from those who had started the game. Partly perhaps to get some minutes in tandem with Idah; a player who possesses the raw material but perhaps still lack the self-confidence to really express himself in green and yellow.

One can hope that will come with games and goals and a guiding hand from Barnes.

There was a moment in that brief second half coupling when the more experienced man tried to thread a pass for Idah that rolled through to Lynn’s keeper. Barnes immediately held up his hands to acknowledge the fault lay with him.

Viewed through a larger lens, that demonstrated someone willing to take the responsibility, and in so doing shield and counsel two players, who retain the potential to score the goals that can turn City into something better than last season’s mid-table fodder.

4. Nacho’s nurturing

Wagner revealingly spoke after this win about the transformative impact summer coaching recruit, Narcis Pelach, was having with his Spanish speaking City midfielder.

Nunez, by his own admission, has found it harder than Gabby Sara to immerse himself in the language and with it possibly fully integrate into English football.

It was not only a gruelling year long diet of club football for him - after moving from Chile to Norwich - that explained the volatility in his performance level last season.

We are still yet to really discover if Nunez can be the influential midfield force his talent suggests is attainable at Championship level.

But in Pelach he has a coaching confidante and conduit to understand completely what Wagner wants. This was another deployment in a more withdrawn role after his second half cameo at Barnet.

In a friendly where City were dominant, in terms of territory and possession, Nunez was able to showcase his passing range with the trigger passes for the second, third and fourth first half goals.

Whether the Chilean’s defensive instincts can be sharpened, and that propensity to be turned over in the wrong areas of the pitch can be curbed, might hold the key to whether Wagner trusts him in a more withdrawn central midfield role in the Championship.