Norwich City Coach Addresses Josh Sargent’s Absence Due to Disciplinary Issues

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement has confirmed that Josh Sargent will not be included in the squad for the upcoming Championship match against Wrexham, attributing the decision to disciplinary reasons. The U.S. international was also absent from last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Walsall, having informed the coaching staff of his unavailability the night before the match.

While Clement refrained from disclosing the specifics of the incident, he made his position clear, stating, “I’m not going into details about what this is about and what the future will be because I don’t have a crystal ball – but he knows why he is training with the second team and we will see how it evolves in the future,” as reported to BBC Radio Norfolk.

The Belgian manager characterized Sargent’s actions as “unacceptable,” underscoring that discipline and commitment are non-negotiable, especially as the club faces a relegation battle. Consequently, Sargent has been asked to train separately from the first team.

Despite the current situation, Sargent remains one of Norwich’s most effective players, boasting 56 goals in 157 appearances. The club has previously indicated that they do not intend to sell him during the January transfer window, despite interest from MLS side Toronto FC.

Clement, however, acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the transfer market, stating, “In football, you can never say never. If somebody comes tomorrow to pay £100 million for Josh, he will go.”

Nevertheless, the coach reiterated the club’s priorities, affirming, “What’s really important in this situation is we’re in a relegation battle, so it was clear in this transfer window that we don’t have any intentions to sell Josh.”