Six things you might have missed from Norwich's Belgian tour

1 – Half time

As the wheels of their chartered plane back to Norwich Airport touched the tarmac on Saturday evening, City’s pre-season was preparing to ramp up another notch.

Three games down. Three to play. Johannes Hoff Thorup will now begin to trim the edges of his squad into a more competitive group geared towards tackling the Championship campaign that starts at Oxford next month.

Boosted by the return this week of only summer signing Jose Cordoba and last year’s top goalscorer Josh Sargent, the balance between football and fitness will begin to pivot in the favour of the former as City’s head coach looks to build his base.

Two of their last three friendly matches will take place at Carrow Road, it will be an opportunity for supporters to check in on the progress the side are making. It is gradual, but it is there.

There will less chopping and changing, fewer academy talents and more onus on performance.

There is still to learn, but City feel in a decent spot at this stage of their Championship preparations.

2 – Work in progress

One of the major complaints last season from Norwich City supporters was about the lack of ambition in their playing style. There will be no such issues this time around.

Norwich are now playing with clarity and consistency when it comes to in possession. There is an asymmetry to their build up shape that involves their left back inverting into a back three.

The width is provided on the right by the marauding Jack Stacey whilst the winger, on this occasion Jon Rowe, tucks in to create a box midfield. The width on the left comes from the wide option.

Norwich still lack intuition when it comes to progressing the ball. There is still a need to refine positions, but that will come with increased confidence and repetition in game scenarios.

That structure still needs refining. Norwich have spent the week in Belgium working on the details of their press and defensive structure.

Off the ball, they drop into a compact 4-3-3 designed to limit space in central areas. Thorup has informed his squad that he wants intense counter-pressing when they lose possession.

The reality is that their work will likely extend into the beginning of the Championship campaign and there will be defeats and mistakes along the way, but, if it comes off, Norwich are going to be a fun side to watch this season.

3 – Tough conditions

The temperature clocked 33 degrees as the players stepped out of the tunnel at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne on Saturday afternoon.

It was sweat-producing weather for those in the stands, even hidden in the shade, let alone those players trying to create an intensity with their play to replicate a real league game scenario.

Both Kenny McLean and Thorup felt it had a negative impact on the competitiveness of the fixture, with both teams less inclined to press with the intensity they would normally.

There were drinks breaks held at regular intervals, during which members of City’s performance teams would pull large white towels from an ice box to aid with cooling the players down.

The heat was intense and uncomfortable. That reflected on a friendly clash that started brightly but became lethargic in nature as the contest grew older.

Thorup was left frustrated by Norwich’s inability to spot moments to progress possession, but it’s hard to argue against the impact that this contest wasn’t hampered by the weather.

Liam Gibbs made his Norwich City return in Belgium on Saturday. (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest)

4 –  Comeback kids

The sight of the returning Liam Gibbs and Onel Hernandez will be much welcomed for Thorup as he begins to finalise his first-team squad for the upcoming Championship campaign.

Gibbs has spent much of the last 12 months in football purgatory, not fancied by the previous head coach in his best central role. Now, the youngster has plenty of lost time to make up for this season with a coach who believes in him.

Thorup has been impressed by his technique, talent and tireless running in training. After the game, he confirmed that Gibbs would form part of his midfield mix. That is much welcomed after he spent last season being shoehorned into areas that failed to extract the best out of him.

Hernandez still has a role to play at City. His broken foot in March has added fuel to prove that he can become an integral member of Thorup’s side.

Given that City’s boss wants a natural wide option on the left, there may be a position, even as more of an impact player, for the Cuban to compete for. But the competition in those areas is strong.

Throw in Jose Cordoba and Josh Sargent into the mix upon their return next week, and City’s squad is beginning to take shape, albeit with an ever-increasing hole at the left-back.

Kellen Fisher has impressed Johannes Hoff Thorup early in pre-season. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)

5 – The link

For all the talk of new bright young things in this pre-season, Kellen Fisher isn’t a new name to Norwich City supporters.

He was involved in the majority of Championship matchday squads last season and was the standout of their preparations last summer. Game time was tougher to come by owing to the performances of Jack Stacey at right back.

In three friendly matches so far, the 20-year-old has played in as many different positions – central midfield, right back and, on this occasion, left back.

Thorup’s answer after the game in response to a question on his ability was fascinating. He views the England under-20 international as a key part of their build up, but admitted to being unsure as yet as to where he best slots into their system.

As a midfielder against Northampton, Fisher looked the best player on the pitch. He wasn’t out of place in the same role against Club Brugge in midweek either. This was a slightly different position, but again the ex-Bromley youngster was composed and capable in possession.

Fisher has impressed Thorup. The mission now is to unlock that ability to link their play in possession through finding his best position.

Norwich City played Standard Liege in Belgium on Saturday. (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest)

6 – High Standard

Internally, the view was that City have challenged themselves with a series of tough fixtures throughout this pre-season campaign.

The trip to Belgium saw them face two teams in Club Brugge and Standard Liege that are at the very end of their respective preparation campaigns. The former even played in the domestic Super Cup on Saturday.

Brugge was a bridge too far given Norwich’s squad was lacking a host of senior players, but Liege felt like a competitive and quality test that City dominated for long periods through their possession.

Away from the showpiece matches, it has been a bonding experience and another week of information parting from Thorup and assistant Glen Riddersholm about their desired direction of travel.

It has been a noticeable step up – with two matches at Carrow Road and a second training camp in Austria to come.

The home straight towards the Kassam Stadium is in sight.