Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored in his first game for Norwich City and his last. The problem was in between — the 26 consecutive blanks that saw the Dutch non-striker embody the term Premier League flop.
So it’s a surprise to find the likeable 29-year-old standing between Manchester City and Champions League progress this week having revived his career at Swiss champions Basle.
And should City fans scoff, it’s worth noting Van Wolfswinkel has scored a European winner against them before. His goal for Sporting Lisbon in 2013 knocked City out of the Europa League, hastened the departure of Roberto Mancini and earned the player a move to England.