Wes Hoolahan still has a big role to play in re-establishing Norwich City as genuine promotion contenders.

That's the view of a man who has charted Hoolahan's rise in English football since he impressed as a tricky winger on trial at Blackpool.

Adrian Forbes first came across the Ireland international when Hoolahan was taken on trial by the Tangerines after leaving Livingston.

On their first day of training together, Forbes knew he was in the presence of a special talent who could go a lot higher in the game.

And so it proved, with Hoolahan and Norwich City treading a Premier League path together with the playmaker a central figure.

There is no sign his star is starting to dwindle even at the age of 35 and Forbes believes his former team-mate can still have a huge impact under new head coach Daniel Farke.

'Wes has got a really low centre of gravity and he's never been blessed with blistering pace,' said Forbes, who is now working as an academy coach with the Canaries. 'I knew after I lost my pace that I would struggle to have the impact that I was used to having.

'But it's different with Wes – he's got so many other aspects to his game though and I still think he can have a massive bearing in getting us to where we want to be.

'He will need to be managed in the Championship – I think he will admit himself that he can't play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday.

'But there are not many players that have the ability that he has.'

Forbes believes Hoolahan to be one of the most talented players outside of the Premier League.

In fact, the only other player who comes close to the former Blackpool man, ability-wise, is also a member of City's squad.

'I've not seen many games where the opposition has had a player that can dominate a game like Wes can,' he added. 'The last one I remember doing that was probably Alex Pritchard when he helped Brentford win here a couple of years ago.

'We were all saying that a wonderful talent Tottenham have got on their hands. Hopefully with both players at our disposal, Norwich can be a real force to be reckoned with.'

The Norwich City top 100 continues with Wes Hoolahan – see inside.