When Sargent packed his bags for Werder Bremen, the hype was unreal. He had emerged as a star on the youth level with the U.S. U-17s and U-20s, featuring in World Cups for both teams in the summer of 2017.

Sargent scored just 11 Bundesliga goals in 72 league appearances. Even so, Norwich were willing to give him a chance in 2021, signing the young American after Bremen’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. Sargent, though, would suffer relegation for a second straight season. He scored just two Premier League goals as Norwich dropped down a division.

Sargent’s career wasn’t quite going to plan. Many expected that he would have moved on from Bremen by the fourth year of his professional career, but few would have expected him to be falling into the Championship. As it turns out, though, England’s second tier has been the perfect place for Sargent to kickstart his career.

Sargent’s first season in the Championship was good. With 13 goals in 40 games, he had clearly built confidence, helping him book his spot on the World Cup roster midway through that run.

That was just an appetizer, though. This season is the main course. His 16 goals are good for sixth in the league, and only Jamie Vardy had a better goals-per-90 ratio than Sargent. Most importantly, with Sargent leading the charge, Norwich booked a spot in the promotion playoffs.

So what’s the secret to Sargent’s success? Opportunity. After years of being moved into different positions, Norwich coach David Wagner has given Sargent the chance to be a pure No.9, and that chance has made all the difference.

“Right when he came in, he made it clear that I was just going to be a striker in his system and before that, there was never really a clear position for me. I was kind of a second striker or a winger at Werder Bremen in my first years and at Norwich even,” Sargent said on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s Morning Footy. “So, when he came in and told me that, and I knew in my head I could fully focus on that position again. The position that I’ve been playing since I was a kid. It made me very happy and I’ve been able to improve each game and I feel like I’m in a very good spot right now so I give a lot of credit to him.”

For most of the last 15 years, Norwich have been the definition of a yo-yo club. They’ve gone up and down four times in that span, with their longest run in the top flight lasting three seasons.

They’ll get the chance to go back over the next few weeks, but their path won’t be easy.

Up first is Leeds, a team that pushed for automatic promotion all season long. They fell just short of the top two spot they needed, with Leicester and Ipswich finishing in those positions, but Leeds are almost certainly the favorites to go up from this playoff. Up first is a first leg at Carrow Road on Saturday before the return at Elland Road on Thursday.

Should Norwich survive that, a trip to Wembley would be up next with Southampton or West Brom standing in the way of their Premier League dream. They may not be standing in the way of Sargent’s, though, as it appears he may be going up with or without his Norwich teammates.

Plenty have taken notice of Sargent’s rise, including clubs in the Premier League.

Reports say that Brentford are among those eyeing Sargent, particularly if Ivan Toney moves on. Ex-England international Carlton Palmer, meanwhile, told Football League World that he thinks Sargent will be out of the Championship next season, one way or another.

“If they were to get promotion, then I think Josh Sargent’s future would be assured, but if they didn’t get promotion, I think it is highly likely that Sargent will be sold to raise money to build the squad, so they can go one better the following season and to get into the automatic spots,” Palmer said.

“It is getting more and more difficult now with sides who are relegated from the Premier League. Teams who get relegated from the Premier League have rich pickings and so, therefore, the sides that do get relegated are always going to be in the running of getting promoted the following season. But Norwich will be hoping they may be able to convince Josh Sargent to stay one more season or, if he is sold for a big fee, they could possibly get him back for a season loan.”

Sargent’s former coach, Dean Smith, says that he is more than ready for a rise up the pyramid.

“He can go and play in the EPL again, that’s for sure,” he said on Morning Footy. “He doesn’t have a ceiling at the moment. Unfortunately, he’s had a couple injuries, but he’s just come back now and scoring goals again in the Championship with Norwich.

“He’s actually really mature for someone so young… he’s a really good footballer with a good head on his shoulders. He’ll keep getting better If he can stay injury-free. I think he will be a certainty in the U.S. National Team.”

This playoff run all sets Sargent up for a big summer, one where he could very well be the USMNT’s starter at the Copa America.

Sargent featured in all three of the USMNT’s group stage games at the World Cup, but he’s clearly a much different player this time around. He’ll battle the likes of Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright for that No.9 spot but, given the sheer amount of goals he scored this season, Sargent feels he has a good chance.

Talking to the Pink Un, Sargent said: “As long as I keep doing what I’m doing here at club level I feel like I deserve to be back with the team in the summer. I always want to be with the national team, any time I can. Unfortunately due to injuries and whatnot, I just haven’t been able to get with the guys. It’s been a while, I’m playing really well and if I keep doing what I’m doing here, I feel like there’s no reason I shouldn’t be with them.”

Right now, there’s no stopping Sargent. His rise has been crucial for Norwich and could very well be a major storyline for the USMNT this summer. There’s no writing him off anymore; Sargent has proven that’s ready to compete among the very best.