Kenny McLean is one of Norwich City's most reliable performers and David Wagner can see why comparisons have been made with the Scot and Jonathan Hogg. 

Hogg was an integral part of Wagner's play-off-winning Huddersfield Town side in 2017, and McLean has become as important to City as they bid to repeat the trick under the German this term. 

That top six spot can be secured tomorrow if they beat Swansea and Hull fail to beat Ipswich. If it happens, Norwich will be thanking newly crowned player of the season McLean for his contribution. 

When asked if Wagner saw similarities between the Scot and his former captain at the John Smith Stadium, he could understand the comparison. 

"They are different but the similarity which they both have is that they are competitors and they like to win," Wagner said. 

"This is something you have to have in your team - competitors and football players who like to win. They both have that. 

"He has been in this football club quite a while. Maybe he improved. I can only judge from the time I've been here with him, but what I can say is that he's an outstanding athlete, a top trainer, and super competitive. 

"He is very emotional, and one of his big improvements since we worked together is that he controlled his emotions better. He doesn't get out of the game for 10 or 15 minutes [anymore]. He is one of, if not the, most reliable players we have. He is a good person as well."

Wagner identified the 32-year-old as somebody who could form a key part of his plans in his preparation to taking the Norwich job back in January 2023. 

Eastern Daily Press: Jonathan Hogg was a key part of David Wagner's Huddersfield mission.Jonathan Hogg was a key part of David Wagner's Huddersfield mission. (Image: PA Images)

McLean has lived up to expectations for Wagner - who paid tribute to his captain at Thursday's press conference. 

"When you join a football club, you look a little bit at individuals and I more or less expected that for him," Wagner said. "I know what we can do with players and how we can improve them - even at his age, [I knew] there were some very good steps that he could take. 

"Nobody should forget that he played games as a left-footed centre-back when we got a lot of criticism at the beginning about why we chose him when we had alternatives, but he did outstanding in this position and got nominated for the player of the month in the Championship in this position. 

"It shows what a football-intelligent person he is."