Norwich City column: Striker Ante Crnac stands out for Canaries in games against Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town

How many times has it been said, a week is a long time in football.

It’s one of the game’s favourite clichés – and the words certainly ring true for Norwich City striker Ante Crnac.

It would be fair to say Crnac has taken time to adapt to English football after his summer move from Polish side Raków.

Following the 2-2 draw with West Brom, Crnac’s goal involvements stood at one goal and no assists in 14 games.

As a result, the Croatian youth international has been on the end of plenty of criticism from some quarters – particularly since the injury to Josh Sargent.

Even head coach, Johannes Hoff Thorup, has demanded more from the 20-year-old as he looks to fill the void left by Sargent’s absence.

With the pressure building, it would have been easy for Crnac to go missing, especially given his age.

But he has risen to the challenge and changed the narrative with two significantly improved performances against Plymouth and Luton. They are performances that have yielded three goals and an assist.

As a striker, goals are often the key marker of success – but it was the assist for Emiliano Marcondes against Luton that impressed me most.

On a hat-trick, Crnac had the presence of mind to selflessly lay the ball to his colleague – in arguably the pivotal moment of the game.

It goes without saying, Crnac has plenty to develop in his game – and the caveat must be added that he has done well in games the team has scored plenty of goals.

But hopefully the last two games will have given him the confidence that he not only belongs in this team but can play a key role as we look to continue to close the gap to the play-off positions.

Trips to two of the league’s struggling teams – QPR and Portsmouth – give us the chance to do just that.

Onwards and upwards.