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Can anyone rival Teemu Pukki as Norwich City's player of the season?

The Sports Mole team select who they believe has been Norwich City's player of the season so far - can anyone rival Teemu Pukki?

Norwich City have endured a difficult 2019-20 campaign, with last season's Championship winners looking destined for an immediate return to the second tier.

Daniel Farke's side sit bottom of the Premier League table, six points adrift of safety with only nine games of the season remaining.

There have been some high points, though, most notably a famous 3-2 win over Manchester City at Carrow Road.

The Canaries have also taken points off the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Everton this season, but their overall tally of 21 points from 29 games has left them cut adrift at the bottom.

Here, the Sports Mole team select who they believe has been their player of the season.



Barney Corkhill, Editor: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki celebrates scoring from the spot for Norwich City on January 18, 2020© Reuters

Despite their league position, Norwich have had a few players who have enjoyed good individual seasons and both Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia deserve honourable mentions. For me, though, it is impossible to look past Teemu Pukki.

The striker's goals during the early months of the season - he scored six times in the opening five games - gave Norwich some of their best moments of the campaign so far and provided real belief that they could hold their own in the division.

Pukki's form has tailed off since that explosive start, but he has still netted 44% of Norwich's goals this term - the highest proportion of any player in the Premier League. His 11 goals, including strikes against all of the top four, have earned Norwich 11 points, which is more than half of their overall tally.

Without those goals they would be 17 points from safety and still facing the possibility of recording the Premier League's lowest-ever points tally.



Matt Law, Football Editor: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki in action for Norwich City on February 1, 2020© Reuters

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough season for Norwich, who are currently bottom of the Premier League table, six points behind 17th-placed Watford on the same number of games.

The Canaries have had some impressive performers this term, though, namely Todd Cantwell, who has provided six Premier League goals from midfield. It is tough to look past Pukki, though, considering his contribution in a struggling side.

Indeed, the 30-year-old has managed 11 top-flight goals in 28 outings, netting against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur. What's more, he has managed 34 shots on target in the Premier League this term, which is a total only bettered by Jamie Vardy, Raul Jimenez, Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Salah.

The Finland international has certainly proved his class at this level, and it will be very, very difficult for Norwich to keep hold of him regardless of whether they manage to avoid relegation.



Darren Plant, Senior Reporter: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki in action for Norwich City on December 14, 2019© Reuters

Despite netting just two goals since the turn of the year, Teemu Pukki's form during the first half of the campaign has given Norwich City a chance of retaining their Premier League status for another 12 months.

While the Finland international has 11 goals and three assists in total, man-of-the-match showings against Newcastle United and Manchester City got the ball rolling for the Canaries after their promotion from the Championship, with further crucial strikes coming in draws against Arsenal and Leicester City.

The 28-year-old has not always showcased his true ability, but his presence in the final third has kept opposition backlines on alert throughout the 90 minutes.



Dan Lewis, Senior Reporter: Teemu Pukki

Norwich City's Teemu Pukki celebrates his hat-trick with the match ball after the match against Newcastle on August 17, 2019© Reuters

Honourable mentions should be given to Todd Cantwell and Tim Krul, but you cannot look any further than Teemu Pukki for Norwich's shining light in a fairly forgettable campaign.

The Finland international top scored in the Championship last season and has followed that up with 11 goals in his debut Premier League season.

The goals may have dried up somewhat in the second half of the campaign, but Norwich could well have already been relegated if not for his sublime early-season form.



Ben Knapton, Reporter: Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Norwich City and Manchester City on September 14, 2019© Reuters

In many ways, it has been a campaign to forget for Norwich, but a few players have certainly stood out for the Canaries under Daniel Farke.

Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia have reportedly attracted interest from some of England's top clubs, and rightly so, but Teemu Pukki's outstanding form in front of goal means that he is Norwich's player of the season for me.

The Finland international has proved that he is every inch a Premier League player with 11 goals and three assists, impressive statistics for his first campaign in the English top flight.

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Barney Corkhill
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Teemu Pukki in action for Norwich City on December 14, 2019
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