Norwich City: Why Martin Olsson Could Hold the Key to Canaries Attacking Threat

The signing of Martin Olsson may not have attracted the headlines that some of Norwich City's other impressive summer captures have generated, but the Swedish international's move from Blackburn Rovers could turn out to be an inspired piece of business.

The left-back provides a much-needed injection of genuine pace into a Canaries team that desperately lacked such a quality last season, and at the age of just 25, Olsson is a player that still has time on his side to develop.

Early indications in preseason suggest that Olsson has already started to formulate a promising link-up with fellow new recruit Nathan Redmond on the left-hand side, and if that relationship can continue to blossom, Norwich should have plenty of potency from that avenue.

In last Tuesday's friendly against Real Sociedad, Olsson produced an accomplished first-half display, and his willingness to overlap time and time again was a welcome sight.

Although Javier Garrido didn't do much wrong last season, I believe that his reluctance to take risks and offer an option on the left played a part in City's inability to score goals. 

Admittedly, those instructions may have come from the manager, but there was always a suggestion that the Spaniard was somehow playing within himself.

Moments of brilliance, such as the assist for Anthony Pilkington's famous winner against Manchester United, showed that Garrido is capable unlocking opposing defences. However, those moments were too few and far between for someone of his ability.

Olsson's athleticism and enthusiasm to get up and down provides a completely different alternative to Garrido, and that variety can only be good news for Chris Hughton.

An attacking full-back can seriously enhance a team's attacking threat, and in the shape of Olsson, Norwich City now have someone that can do just that.

With the quality, and of course the sheer amount of money that has been spent on the likes of Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper, Norwich City need to find a way of providing the aforementioned players with a consistent supply line of chances.

No matter how good they are, if the Canaries are unable to provide their strikers with any service, they simply will not score goals and that is why the inclusion of Olsson is a priority.

Only time will tell if Chris Hughton feels the same way.

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