Jack Stacey is a ‘proper machine’ who is looking ‘unplayable’ at present for Norwich City.

The attacking full-back served up a third consecutive assist with a superb pass for Josh Sargent to finish in the 4-1 Championship win over Cardiff City.

Head coach David Wagner believes a post-festive breather has revitalised the 27-year-old raiding right-back.

Stacey sat out the first FA Cup third round tie against Bristol Rovers, during an 11-day break without a game, but has been an ever-present since.

“He is a proper machine,” said the City chief. “Apart from the assists he runs up and down like there is no tomorrow. This is unbelievable what he's doing. Defensively, very sharp as well. Great offensively.

"He looks in some moments unplayable, and I'm very happy that he has the form, and he should only continue doing what he has done in recent weeks.

“Since this busy Christmas period, where I gave a few players a few days off, the guys who played a lot, after he came back it's unbelievable what he has done so far.”

Stacey looked a worthy successor to Bournemouth-bound Max Aarons, when he originally swapped places with the club's double Championship title winner, as one of nine new faces to arrive at Carrow Road before the season.

Sporting director Ben Knapper recently suggested there would be a squad turnover again this coming summer, and Wagner expects it to be busy.

City have a number of senior players approaching the end of their current deals, and a sizeable contingent of youngsters on loan in the Football League.

“I agree. 100pc,” said Wagner. “But for me the question is a little bit what does it mean when we say refresh? In terms of normally then you have a number in your head, so does it mean eight new signings, or 10 or 12 or 14? I think this is quite difficult to assess.

"Everyone has a different figure in his head, so in general I think this summer, and the last summer as well, I don't know exactly how many to be fair, but numbers went out and how many new signings we got refreshed it, and maybe the summer before as well.

“Perhaps this is what he wants to say, in terms of the summer window is the moment where you refresh your team, your squad, and not the January window which we just passed.”