Paddy's Pointers: Five observations from Charlton 0-1 City

1. Relief

A win, a goal and a clean sheet. Not to forget passage into the FA Cup fourth round. None of those looked that likely as Dean Smith trooped to the dressing rooms at the interval. Charlton had been bright and confident and willing to pin back a lacklustre Norwich.

After such a desperately poor December in the Premier League this was not the watershed offering those in the packed away end would have expected. Smith took decisive action with a triple substitution at half-time that brought a long awaited return for Milot Rashica.

The attacker was the difference. Not only in settling a tie that could have easily gone to extra-time, if Ben Purrington’s header had clipped the underside of Tim Krul’s bar in stoppage time. But in the calmness, composure and quality in the final third that was sadly absent prior to his introduction.

From small acorns who knows what this win can do for the massive league challenge ahead. But Smith said on Friday after a bruising festive spell on and off the pitch he had to ‘build his players back up again’. That certainly looked to have proved elusive after a sluggish first half, but City got the job done.

They also welcomed some of their biggest hitters back. But the real acid test awaits at West Ham in a few days.

2. Game changer

At this stage of the season it would be asking far too much for one player to trigger the epic turnaround required by Norwich, but in the fit-again Rashica, Smith at least has Premier League-grade attacking weaponry at his disposal.

The Kosovan international was a key figure in those two uplifting opening pair of home games under Smith, before a groin issue prompted a prolonged lay-off. Yes, the goals and assists to that point had remained elusive in the wider context of Norwich’s fitful output in the final third.

But there was still enough circumstantial evidence to feel he could stick Premier League defences on the back foot. He put that right in a Norwich shirt at the Valley, with a composed close range slot from Pukki’s cutback.

There was another couple of wayward efforts either side of his landmark second half strike. Plus a lovely fluid turn and slip pass to feed Josh Sargent, who needed an eternity to swivel and get his shot away.

At least with Rashica back out on the park it feels like Norwich now carry a threat.

That upcoming midweek Premier League trip to the Hammers marks the resumption of the real business. Keep Rashica fit from here, and one feels the goals and assists will surely come in greater quantities.

3. Heavy burden

That hefty price tag, and the words of Daniel Farke labelling Christos Tzolis as one of the best for his age across Europe in his position, added to the hype around the teenage Greek international.

Fanned by his stunning League Cup bow against Bournemouth, when two goals and two assists had many City fans salivating.

But much like the downward trajectory of the Canaries’ campaign, Tzolis has never remotely threatened to recapture that fizzing potential and sense of excitement since. Newcastle, away, under Smith was a big opportunity missed.

With Rashica ruled out through injury, the understudy got a shot to impress but was hooked at half-time. It was a similar story away to Crystal Palace recently, when Tzolis made way for another youngster in Jonathan Rowe.

But here against League One opponents was surely a chance to make a statement? Alas, it was another demonstration there is a rawness and naivety to his game, and maybe a lack of confidence or self-belief after that initial spark fizzled out.

He lasted another 45 minutes before Rashica made his long-awaited re-appearance, alongside Pukki, from the bench.

It does not help that with a dire run of Premier League productivity, and the heightened focus on last summer’s recruitment, Tzolis’ failure to deliver is perhaps only magnified. He remains a baby and some way from the finished product. But he looks a long way short at present.

4. Middle men

No Billy Gilmour to polarise opinion with what Smith indicated afterwards was a suspected ankle injury, but in a central midfield three of Jacob Sorensen, Pierre Lees-Melou and Kenny McLean more evidence City lack the drive and the intensity, quite apart from the quality required.

This was not Premier League opposition, but Charlton still collectively showed more urgency and more appetite for the scrap in a desperate first half.

Sorensen and Lees-Melou for the most part looked off the pace. They were not alone. Smith shuffled his pack at half-time but frankly any of those in green and yellow could have had few complaints if their number was up.

McLean did improve following the interval, to be fair, and had a key role in Rashica’s goal.

But each passing game merely underlines how big a miss the injured Mathias Normann has been. By common consent he is no direct replacement for Tottenham’s Olly Skipp, but the Norwegian international did offer a ballast and desire to get on the front foot. Plus undoubted quality on the ball.

City's central midfield, on the evidence of half a Premier League season and for the opening hour or so of this cup outing, have a chronic deficit in a vital area of the park. They are unable to exert the control required. Too often the likes of Pukki forage on fitful service, while the backline find themselves routinely exposed.

It is a toxic mix. This is a far bigger issue than the narrower focus on a 20-year-old Chelsea prospect who has failed to live up to those unrealistic expectations.

5. Byram booster

These are big moments in Sam Byram’s career. Maybe equally in terms of what Norwich’s right side of their defence looks like in a post-Max Aarons’ world. Not that Aarons is set to depart in this transfer window.

Bali Mumba’s loan move to Peterborough was a clear signal City’s brains’ trust is planning for Aarons to be involved for the duration of this season. Unless there is a January bid too good to turn down.

But if this coming summer offers a more likely departure point, then Byram is clearly in pole position to assume the mantle on the right side of the Norwich defence.

After 20 months or so on the sidelines, not one but two bouts of surgery and endless punishing rehab, it was hardly a surprise to hear Byram himself remark recently retirement had crossed his mind. That is why every successful hurdle cleared from here, in terms of how his body reacts to being back in the heat of battle, should provide him with renewed confidence and perhaps convinces Smith in the longer term he can rely on Byram.

Certainly the quality and the pedigree are not in doubt. He was arguably City’s best performer at the highest level two seasons ago, before the start of his injury hell. Get back to those levels and Byram can be the answer to a number of questions.