Johannes Hoff Thorup is a smart piece of business by Norwich City, in the view of former Canaries’ talent spotter Gregg Broughton.

Thorup has replaced David Wagner at Carrow Road as head coach with a brief to re-produce his success at FC Nordsjaelland built on youth.

Broughton’s five year stint as head of academy recruitment in Norfolk saw a pipeline that produced first team players from Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis all the way through to Jon Rowe and Abu Kamara.

Broughton also spent nearly five years with Norwegian club Bodo Glimt before his most recent spell as Blackburn’s director of football.

The highly-respected Broughton has followed Thorup’s work closely, and believes City have made an astute choice.

“An excellent appointment by Norwich City football club,” he posted on his social media account. “For the past 18 months Johannes has delivered an exciting, possession-based style of football with FC Nordsjaelland, whilst continuing to develop individual players within one of the youngest teams in world football. The results have also followed, with FCN finishing second and fourth under his stewardship.

“It will be really interesting to watch his development in the Championship.”

Broughton is now weighing up his next challenge after a Blackburn exit at the end of last season.

“This has been the most fulfilling two years of my career, but it has also had its challenges,” he said, reflecting on his recent departure. “In the face of these challenges, I have always strived to do my best and communicate in the interest of Blackburn Rovers, its values, and its supporters.

"With our long-term focus on trying to build a team centred around homegrown talent, we encountered well-documented challenges over the last year.

"The decisions that have had to be made have been continual but despite this we managed to fulfil the short-term aim set out to us at the beginning of the season – to remain in the Championship.

"However, I know that staying in the Championship is not enough for a club of this size and history. Hopefully the financial platform that our player sales have generated over the past twelve months leaves a great platform to build the success that our supporters thoroughly deserve.”