The best is yet to come from Nelson Oliveira at Norwich City, pledges his Portuguese pal Ivo Pinto.

Oliveira plundered three in three before the 2-1 Championship defeat against Huddersfield, with Pinto earning two assists. The Canaries' full-back believes Carrow Road could be the perfect stage for the nomadic striker, who is yet to fulfil his talent after bursting onto the scene as a highly-rated teenager at Benfica.

'I know Nelson probably better than anyone else here. Nelson is a very, very good player,' said Pinto. 'He is a very talented player and the goal he scored (at Barnsley) was just the beginning for him. For sure. He is quality, with his capacity he has a lot to give to this team.

'I hope he is on the way up. I really like him. I played with Nelson in the national team and perhaps you could say he had a bit of bad luck in his career. I just hope this is a start for him because he has everything to be a fantastic player.'

Oliveira's second-half exit against the Terriers last week sparked an ugly reaction from sections of the Carrow Road home crowd, but Alex Neil knows his big-money summer signing will deliver.

'In terms of his hold up play and his link play this is a guy who has 20-odd caps for Portugal so he is a very good player,' said the City boss, speaking prior to the defeat.

'I wouldn't describe him as a poacher, although he will get in there and finish moves off, but it is such a nice feeling to have someone at the top end of the pitch who can score out of nothing. He is capable of doing it.

'We knew his qualities and we knew others would score goals from him because he can bring people into play. He is more than capable of scoring 15 goals for us this season. Hopefully there is more to come.

'What he does do is play as a natural number nine in the way I like it. I don't really have to tell him too much, if I am being honest, in terms of he knows how to do the job.'