Sargent text 'disrespectful' says ex-Norwich defender

Former Norwich City defender Rob Newman has accused striker Josh Sargent of being "disrespectful" after making himself unavailable for their FA Cup third round tie against Walsall.

The Canaries won the game 5-1, but boss Philippe Clement afterwards claimed that Sargent had sent him a text saying he did not want to play "because of transfer things in his head".

The US international is contracted to Norwich until 2028 and the club say he will not be sold in this month's transfer window.

"That is how to go from a hero to zero in one text message, basically," Newman told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"You don't do that, no matter how good a player you are, what an icon, a legend you are, you just don't do that.

"I've never met Josh Sargent, but anyone who has spoken to him says he's the nicest guy in the world, so someone somewhere is advising him - and that is the worst piece of advice he will have received in his professional career."

Newman, who played more than 200 games for Norwich in the 1990s, added: "The club is bigger than anyone. If the manager doesn't want to play you, you go and speak to him face to face, but you don't send him a text message. For me, that's disrespectful."

Sargent has scored eight goals in 25 appearances this season, after starting it with six in the first five games.