Norwich City defender Jaden Warner made his full debut in the Championship match against Blackburn Rovers. Warner had previously impressed in the Carabao Cup, but had been absent from recent matchday squads. However, with the team in a desperate run of form, manager David Wagner decided to give Warner a chance. Despite the team’s defensive struggles, Warner was one of the few positives from the match. He showed maturity, made crucial tackles, and played with confidence.
Wagner described it as a brave decision to give Warner a chance, especially considering the errors made by senior defender Shane Duffy in recent weeks. Deadline Day signing Danny Batth was left on the bench as Warner was given the opportunity to start. However, the central defenders at Norwich are being exposed by the team’s system, and Warner cannot fix these structural issues alone.
Warner’s debut was a promising one, and he should now be given a run in the side to try and build some form. At just 21 years old, Warner has a bright future ahead of him. It is surprising that it took until now for him to make his first league appearance at any level. With more senior players blocking his pathway, Warner has the opportunity to seize his chance and prove himself. Norwich’s strategy has always been centered on youth, and Warner has a role to play in that vision.
Overall, Warner was blameless in his full debut and made important interventions to deny Blackburn goalscoring opportunities. He was composed in possession but often isolated by his senior defensive partner. Warner’s performance was rated as a 6 out of 10.
