With the expected summer exit of James Maddison poised to be completed, David Freezer looks back on a fantastic individual season of great goals from the playmaker.
James Maddison is about to become a Premier League player and the time has arrived to look back on a personal contribution which will long be remembered by Norwich City supporters.
The England Under-21 international is poised to join Leicester with most Canaries fans disappointed their club were not able to follow the upward trajectory of Maddison's career but aware that a special talent has just graced Carrow Road.
A grand total of 15 goals and 11 assists in 49 games saw the 21-year-old voted City's player of the season by fans. Here are the goals which lit up a campaign of mid-table mediocrity amid the club's transitional season and earned Maddison a place in the Championship team of the season...
August 8, 2017 – Norwich 3 Swindon 2
The first Carrow Road game of the season saw Maddison immediately take centre stage. League Two side Swindon had taken the lead after 25 minutes but the Coventry academy product soon teed up both Cameron Jerome and Wes Hoolahan to claim the lead with two goals in 12 minutes.
He then made sure of the success with a lovely turn in the box in the 42nd minute, firing into the bottom-left corner to put City 3-1 up before the break.
Sept 26, 2017 – Middlesbrough 0 Norwich 1
Maddison's strike at the Riverside earned a fine away victory against one of the teams just relegated from the Premier League, unleashing a rocket from the edge of the box after Marley Watkins had done well to win possession on the left wing.
The ball nestled in the top-right corner in just the 13th minute and latterly earned the youngster the Championship goal of the month award.
Sept 30, 2017 – Reading 1 Norwich 2
He followed up his fine strike at Boro with an outstanding 25-yard free-kick which put Norwich ahead in the 10th minute in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the Madejski Stadium.
The curl on the rising star's set-piece was too much for Royals keeper Vito Mannone as it flew into the top-left corner, before his bouncing corner also allowed Jerome to head in the winner after the break.
Oct 22, 2017 – Ipswich 0 Norwich 1
More away joy soon followed for Maddison, ensuring his place in East Anglian Derby history with the decisive goal at Portman Road.
Marco Stiepermann took control and teed up City's main man, who dropped his shoulder and lashed a low shot into the bottom-right corner of the Town net. With a finger to his lips to silence the home fans, the young man's popularity was growing by the game, and again in front of the Sky cameras with a watching audience.
Nov 25, 2017 – Norwich 1 Preston 1
Did he mean it? We'll never know – but it certainly looked good. With former boss Neil in close attendance in the away dug-out Maddison bent a high free-kick from the left wing which curled all the way to the far top corner to put the Canaries in front in the 34th minute.
North End found an equaliser but the celebration was sweet as the City star ran to Farke to enjoy his spectacular effort.
Dec 9, 2017 – Norwich 3 Sheff Weds 1
The Owls had the lead at the break but City fired out of the traps for the second half. Alex Pritchard lead the charge in the 55th minute, forcing Kieren Westwood to parry his low shot to his left, where Maddison was waiting to emphatically sweep home the equaliser from a tight angle.
His fine corner was then headed home powerfully by Timm Klose before Nelson Oliveira wrapped up the win with a penalty.
Jan 1, 2018 – Norwich 2 Millwall 1
His fine form continued into the new year, firstly floating in a free-kick which was acrobatically headed in by Tom Trybull to equalise in the 52nd minute.
A fourth winning goal of the campaign followed, picking up a tidy through-ball from Harrison Read before unleashing a low shot into the bottom-left corner.
Jan 13, 2018 – Bristol C 0 Norwich 1
Once again showing he can use both feet, Maddison received a simple Ivo Pinto pass from the right, shimmied to his left to lose two defenders and fired a low effort into the bottom-left corner from his left boot.
Scored at the same end as the away fans at Ashton Gate, his hero status continued to be solidified, although some fine work from Angus Gunn was needed to hold on to the three points.
Jan 27, 2018 – Brentford 0 Norwich 1
Another Championship goal of the month award was on its way for Maddison following his beautiful strike at Griffin Park – also winning the divisional player of the month award.
After nut-megging Ryan Woods the Canaries talisman unleashed a long-range rocket which left the home fans stunned and earned another fine away win.
Feb 10, 2018 – Derby 1 Norwich 1
Won a first half penalty which should have seen City equalise, only for Nelson Oliveira's effort to be saved by Scott Carson in the first half.
Took responsibility himself midway through the second half and rolled home confidently to earn the visitors a point in the 72nd minute.
March 10, 2018 – Hull 4 Norwich 3
Scored the first ever hat-trick in the first half of an away game by a Canaries player, two of them coming from the penalty spot.
Powerful low shot slipped under David Marshall less than a minute after his first penalty but it was all in vain, as a bizarre second half saw the Tigers come back.
March 17, 2018 – Norwich 3 Reading 2
A third successful penalty in three games gave City a 3-1 lead they fully deserved at half-time, against a hapless visiting Royals side.
Mario Vrancic and Grant Hanley had both scored following Maddison corners, before being clattered himself to win the spot-kick and rolling home calmly in front of the Barclay.
April 7, 2018 – Norwich 3 Villa 1
It proved to be his final goal, making sure of an impressive home win against play-off chasing Villa.
Just five minutes after Jack Grealish had halved the deficit for the visitors, Josh Murphy teed up Maddison to squeeze home from 10 yards and score his 15th goal of a fantastic individual campaign.
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