Pukki excited by City’s striking crop

Teemu Pukki knows what is required to score consistently in the Championship and believes Norwich City have the striking options to succeed next season.

The Finn is the Canaries’ fourth-highest goalscorer and hit 20-plus goals in both promotion-winning campaigns, helping the club to the Premier League in 2018/19 and 2020/21, and in the process he became a legendary and much-loved figure.

Few are better qualified to assess City’s striking stocks than Pukki. The 36-year-old is excited by the blend of profiles available under boss Philippe Clement, including Jovon Makama, Mo Toure and Mathias Kvistgaarden.

“It is exciting. Obviously, Kvistgaarden has been playing in a slightly different position. Toure came in really well and started scoring goals quite impressively with the way he did it. Makama then picked up an injury after being so impressive, which is not easy to deal with after you’ve just got going. But hopefully he’s fit now and can build up again in pre-season.

“There are now really, really good options who have shown they can score at that level," Pukki told the Pink Un in an exclusive interview.

"They are different types of players as well, so it gives the staff the chance to pick the ones who fit best. Hopefully, they can do well next season.”

Despite returning to Finland, Pukki still watches City regularly and has moved from the pitch to fandom, admitting he receives phone updates to keep track of their progress.

Like many of a yellow and green persuasion, he has been impressed by Clement's remarkable turnaround since his appointment last November and is carrying optimism into the new Championship campaign after fearing for their future before Christmas.

“I was scared, to be honest. It was in December and I was really worried about what might happen," Pukki said.

Jovon Makama impressed in his debut Canaries campaign before injury. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

"Obviously, then Clement came in and everything changed. From the position they were in before he arrived to almost reaching the play-offs, it tells you everything about the work he’s done.

“Now he’ll get a full pre-season and the chance to bring in the players he wants. I’m optimistic about next season and hoping they can keep building on what they’ve done over the last couple of months.

"Hopefully, we’ll get Premier League football back at Carrow Road soon, maybe the season after next.”