Norwich City column: Summer of rebuilding is coming for the Canaries regardless of this season’s final outcome

You could almost be forgiven for thinking it was the Spring of 2017 again.

Having started the season as promotion favourites following relegation from the Premier League, the Canaries find themselves falling towards mid-table mediocrity after flattering to deceive for much of the campaign.

A mid-season managerial change came far too late – while it is impossible to ignore the growing sense of apathy around a number of players who would have once been considered heroes.

In truth, those players are sat earning more money than their performances deserve.

Back in 2017, Norwich City turned to Stuart Webber to fix the mess. He was given a remit to almost start from scratch and take the club in a new direction. Six years later, it feels as though we have reached that point once more.

There are many reasons this season has been a disappointment on the field – as have been pointed out time and time again. Perhaps the most compelling is a lack of hunger and desire among some of the experienced heads in the squad.

I don’t mean that as a direct criticism. After all, these players carry the scars of two nightmare seasons in the Premier League. Why would they want to go through that again?

Anyway, everything points towards a summer of change at Carrow Road (whatever the outcome of the last seven games).

The first real sign of that was Wednesday afternoon’s announcement that Teemu Pukki will be leaving the club at the end of his contract this summer.

I don’t think the news will have come as a great surprise to most, but nonetheless it will be extremely sad to wave goodbye to a man who has played such an integral part in our recent history.

I will of course dedicate more column inches to the goat over the coming weeks (how could you not?), but I really hope he goes out in style by scoring a few more goals between now and the end of season.