Liam Manning loves Wells and Mehmeti after Nahki nets for Bristol City on landmark game

You wouldn’t think he is 34 years old.

Nahki Wells has been enjoying some of the form of his long career in English football, just in time for his 500 ^th career league performance.

At Carrow Road, the Bermudian pulled just to the right of the goal as Jason Knight darted inside from the left. As the striker entered the box, Knight slotted the ball into his path and Wells fired a thunderbolt into the top right corner, impossible for George Long in the Norwich net to stop.

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Not a bad way to mark a half-millennium of games.

“Phenomenal,” was the word head coach Liam Manning used to describe the Bristol City forward.

“I’m delighted for Nahki. I love working with him. He’s an outstanding professional.

“What impresses me more than Nahki is the standards he sets on himself. I think he gets more frustrated and annoyed than anybody when he misses opportunities in training. His quality I get to see regularly in training as well and you it come out in games.

“It was a fantastic finish and he’s in a really good spot and long may it continue.”

Wells began his footballing career in his native Bermuda before moving to England in 2011 to join Carlisle United, making his debut for the Cumbrians against Robins rivals Bristol Rovers.

After working his way up the EFL with spells at Bradford City, Huddersfield Town, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers, before moving to BS3 in 2020.

The 34-year-old has bagged five goals in 15 games this season and has been the Robins’ first choice centre forward after displacing Sinclair Armstrong around the time of the last international break.

City have built some real depth in their forward positions, adding to the ranks substantially in the summer transfer window.

The by-product of healthy competition is that players will come in and out of the team.

Well’s goal scoring teammate Anis Mehmeti came back into the starting XI against the Canaries after notching a penalty in the week against Sheffield United.

Mehmeti was one the brightest sparks in the Reds’ win in East Anglia, taking players on from the off, winning fouls and creating chances.

“I thought he was excellent,” his boss revealed after the game.

“He’s had to be a little bit patient. I know he wants to start every single game and I know he would’ve been a bit frustrated at not, but the only thing you can do is deliver when you’re called upon.

“We’re going to have to make changes in the future. It wasn’t so long ago that Nahki wasn’t playing, and Sinclair Armstrong was starting. You’re going to need everyone over the course of the season and the best thing you can do is respond like Anis has. I love working with him.

“He loves football, he wants to get better continuously. I’m delighted for him. He’s so desperate to do well. When people work as hard as he does, I’m delighted when they get the outcomes that they want.”

Mehmeti is one of those that will be staying with the squad over the international break after missing out on a place in the Albania set up and will no doubt be using the valuable break in Championship action to continue to get better.

The London-born winger took the place of summer signing Yu Hirakawa in the Reds starting line-up which shows the amount of attacking talent Manning possesses in his squad.

Hirakawa had been in fine form for the Robins, putting in impressive performances at both ends of the pitch and netting City’s early goal in their last away game against Preston North End.

There’s a real battle for places beginning to take shape and, as players return from injury and suspension in the coming weeks, expect the competition to heat up.

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