Youssouf Mulumbu put himself in contention for a dream competitive debut against his former club when he made his comeback from injury for Norwich City Under-21s.
The midfielder eased his way back into action at Leicester City's King Power Stadium, playing for 63 minutes before being replaced by youngster Joe Crowe.
It was Mulumbu's first game since he picked up a foot injury in City's final pre-season friendly against Brentford on August 1, and he will now be hoping to feature for the first team on Saturday when West Bromwich Albion visit Carrow Road in the Barclays Premier League.
Mulumbu spent six years with the Baggies, making over 200 appearances, before moving to Carrow Road on a free transfer during the summer – so it would be a very special occasion for the 28-year-old midfielder if was involved at the weekend.
City's side also featured Andre Wisdom and Vadis Odjidja Ofoe – back from a loan spell at Rotherham – as over-age players, but they could not prevent the visitors from slipping to a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League International Cup competition.
Ben Killip pulled off a good save to deny Danny Rowe before the Canaries took the lead after just three minutes. The visitors broke quickly and youngster Benny Ashley-Seal produced a composed finish to open the scoring.
Reece Hall-Johnson was then denied by Jonny Morrison as the visitors threatened to make it 2-0 before Killip was called into action again to keep out a header from Elliott Moore.
Goalscorer Ashley-Seal's evening lasted just 26 minutes as he picked up an injury, with Louis Ramsay coming on to replace him.
Leicester got back on level terms on 36 minutes when Joe Dodoo, who had had an effort blocked moments earlier, stabbed home a loose ball from close range.
City made a bright start to the second half, with Jamie Eaton-Collins firing just wide when under pressure from Darnell Johnson and Ramsay lifting the ball over from eight yards out.
Wisdom was withdrawn from the fray on 72 minutes, to be replaced by Afalobi Coker, and five minutes later the Foxes scored what proved to be the winner.
A strike from Jacob Blyth took a deflection and Dodoo was perfectly placed to nod home his second goal of the evening from virtually on the goal-line.
Cameron Norman saw a late header blocked – but the Canaries could not force an equaliser.
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