The 21-year-old was the subject of interest during the January transfer window, with Stockport County expressing an interest in signing the Canaries defender, but he preferred a move to Notts County, continuing the link between the two clubs, having sent custodian Archie Mair on loan to the East Midlands club for their National League victory, in which he saved two penalties against Chesterfield.
It appeared to be the ideal move for Warner, who had impressed at Norwich’s academy, since the Magpies’ possession-based style of football was well suited to the centre defender’s abilities.
Since arriving at Meadow Lane at the beginning of the year, Warner’s time at the club has been far from settled, exacerbated by the transitional period, which saw Luke Williams leave League Two for Swansea City in January.
The Canaries loanee would make his debut for new manager Stuart Maynard in his second game in charge, away to Mansfield Town, where he played the entire game and impressed Magpies supporters.
But Notts’ slide from promotion contenders to mid-table has been pretty spectacular, and sadly, the team’s defenders have been questioned about the number and manner in which goals have been conceded since the turn of the year.
This season, County is one of the top scorers in the division, but they also have the worst defensive record in League Two, becoming the first team since Peterborough United to score and concede 75 goals in the top four tiers this century.
Warner has only won two games in ten appearances for Notts County, surrendering 22 goals in the process. While it is not up to the individual, but rather the collective, to handle the issue. The defender has not started a match since the end of last month and has missed the last three, with the club stating he was absent from Tuesday’s defeat to Stockport County due to sickness.
His arrival at the club was one that excited Notts fans given the need for extra defensive cover following a positive start to the season, but Warner has failed to cement a place in the starting side, albeit starting more games than he has been on the bench.
Warner has shown his quality with the ball at his feet and the physicality of League Two lends itself to the way in which he likes to operate as a central defender.
Sometimes his inexperience has been taken advantage of by the more seasoned professionals in the division, but that is bound to happen given his age and where he is at during his career.
The highly rated defender has been with the club since 2014, when he signed his first professional deal.
His talents were rewarded again the following year, when he agreed to a new deal that will keep him with the club until the end of next season, implying that another loan move is inevitable for the 21-year old.
Warner’s early career demonstrated his seemingly limitless skill. He drew a lot of notice for his performance against Fulham in the Carabao Cup in September, when he was perfect against Premier League competition.
He also has Championship experience, having faced Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City twice earlier this season and performed admirably both times.
Still early in his professional football development, and with his performances at Notts indicating a player who requires a run of games below Championship level to continue his development, it appears that Norwich will be eager to send him back out on loan to allow Warner to gain experience in the lower tiers, which could lead to a new contract at Carrow Road next year.
The 21-year-old has showed he has skill, which has been little discovered at Meadow Lane, but his time in the East Midlands appears to have only scratched the surface of the potential at his talented feet.
