Fortuna Dusseldorf boss Daniel Thioune felt the absence of Norwich City loanee Christos Tzolis despite a win that kept them ahead in the third-place race in Bundesliga Two. 

Tzolis missed their 1-0 victory over SpVgg Greuther Fürth owing to a yellow card suspension after the Greek international accrued his fifth booking of the campaign in their 2-0 victory over Wehen Wiesbaden last weekend. 

The City winger has been a major part of Dusseldorf's attack and, despite the victory giving them the march in the race for a spot in the play-off, Tzolis' absence was felt by Thioune, who expressed why he felt the 22-year-old was missed post-game. 

“My difference players in the last few weeks have been Tzolis and Tanaka. We might have had a lot more quality on the pitch today,” Thioune told German outlet Express.  

“Christos has a brutal quality. A lot of one-on-one situations arose today and Christos can break up one-on-one situations.

“It’s no secret that there will be a bit of Greek music in the first team next weekend.” 

Only Haris Tabakovic of Hertha Berlin has scored more goals than Tzolis in the German second tier, with the Norwich winger having scored 18 in just 26 league matches. 

There has been plenty of debate surrounding his future, with Dusseldorf possessing an option to buy him. That becomes an obligation should they gain promotion to the Bundesliga.

Norwich are expected to cash in on the 22-year-old this summer amid plenty of interest in his services. Reports in Germany have suggested that Bundesliga sides have been monitoring his progress all season, with Turkish giants Besiktas also linked. 

Tzolis is contracted at Carrow Road until June 2026, having joined from Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki for a fee of just under £9m. He has scored three goals and recorded two assists in 30 appearances for the Canaries. 

Elsewhere, Abu Kamara celebrated his title-winning campaign with Portsmouth with the trophy lift after their 2-1 defeat to Wigan on Saturday. 

Jonathan Tomkinson, currently on loan at League Two side Bradford City, was a second half substitute in their 3-2 victory over Walsall to keep their faint prospects of a play-off place alive. Brad Hills was a part of the Accrington side beaten 4-2 away at Stockport.