Gabby Sara was crowned the league’s player-of-the-month in August, after the Brazilian’s impressive start to the new campaign.
Stand-in captain Kenny McLean attracted firm interest from Leeds in the summer transfer window, with the Whites having three enquiries rebuffed, but has been a rock alongside Sara.
While Wagner is tipping former Leeds midfielder Adam Forshaw to be a big player, once the free agent is up to speed.
“Everything I’ve seen of him I was rarely so impressed by any player,” said the Canaries’ head coach, speaking on Thursday at Colney. “Everything he does, he does on purpose. He picks the right pass, he has the vision, very aggressive as well. So we have to make sure that we build him up. If he stays healthy, we have a top signing with him.
“If this takes a few days more or not this should not be the most important thing for us at the minute. We have to make sure that we keep him healthy. I’m very happy with the first three, three and a half weeks.
“He had 45 minutes for the under 21s, played 20 minutes for us in the cup. He will get further minutes and hopefully he will get his first start soon. Fingers crossed he stays healthy for the whole season. And then we have a super good player for our squad.”
Wagner is also backing Sara to get even better.
“He’s still learning the game, he is still a player who has the hunger to learn, and he is at an age where he will learn every game,” he said. “He is super fit and super athletic. He likes to play every game, and he can do physically.
“Obviously in Brazil, they play a lot of games as well. If our midfield with Kenny and Gabby and hopefully Forsy as well if they are healthy and they are on their best, I will not swap with any midfield in the whole division.
“You can add Nacho (Marcelino Nunez) and Liam (Gibbs) as well. Obviously then they have to play their part. They have to perform on the level which they are capable of. But if they do, we have a group together in midfield which can take on everyone, who can challenge everyone.”
“And this is where we have to make sure that everyone is in the best shape, best fitness shape as well. And then we have players in midfield who can dictate the game and this is what you need. If your midfield is below par you normally struggle.
“And we have to make sure, and this was the case in most of the recent games, including the pre-season, that our midfield was quite strong.”
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