Striker’s absence is a mystery
NELSON Oliveira hasn’t kicked a ball for Norwich City this season.
And no-one really knows why. There has been no official explanation.
The former Swansea City striker, who spent a spell on loan with the Liberty club, has endured a difficult year to say the least, and it is highly unlikely he will be part of the squad that pitches up in SA1 on November 24, the Swans’ next game.
Let’s rewind slightly. This time last year it was all going swimmingly for the Portuguese. Can we pinpoint where it went wrong for him at Carrow Road?
Possibly. On the opening day of last season he came off the bench for the Canaries and scored a late equaliser against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Bedlam ensued.
He tore his shirt off and waved it in the general direction of manager Daniel Farke. It was bizarre in the extreme, and not the brightest move.
Relations tarnished? Most probably. He was still used by the German that season, bagging eight goals in all competitions. But he hasn’t been seen since the final day of the last campaign.
He was also left out of the East Anglian’s pre-season tour of Germany.
“Nelson is part of our group and we just decided not to have him with us,” Farke explained.
“We want to build a togetherness in this group and bring them tightly together.”
The 27-year-old has been banished to the club’s under-23 side, for whom he has played twice. He has completed just 180 minutes of football all season.
This is a player who has Champions League experience from his time with Benfica, international honours with Portugal.
He was hardly prolific with Swansea under Garry Monk (he scored just once in a 2-3 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park) but a move to Norwich via Nottingham Forest saw him hit his stride.
In his first season with the Yellows he scored 15 goals; he bagged nine the next campaign, including that infamous one against the Cottagers.
But Farke has lost faith in him. He said in March: “In general, he (Oliveira) knows that he’s on a pretty horrible run.
“I will always support and back him but I have to have the feeling that he gives everything for the team and is hungry to run and work in training.”
Attitude problems seem to be at the heart of his demise.
“My strikers and players have to improve 100% because there’s no situation after 34 goals in 35 games where we can lay back a bit and not give 100%,” Farke again added last term.
He was linked with Swansea last January, but there was never anything in the rumours.
A bullet dodged? Perhaps. There is a player there, though.