Josh Sargent is not the fix Orlando City fans think he is

With Luis Muriel seemingly on his way out of the door, Duncan McGuire will soon be left as Orlando City's sole senior striker heading into the new season. That's far from ideal.

However prolific the 24-year-old was during his debut year straight out of the collegiate system, those days are long gone. Two successive long-term shoulders injuries since then have really hampered his development, and there's really no guarantee that he'll ever rediscover the sort of form that made him a wanted man across England two short years ago.

Orlando need goals, and that's why Josh Sargent's name is being thrown around as a potential replacement for Muriel.

Shortly after Norwich City's emphatic 5-1 win over Walsall in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday, it was revealed that the 25-year-old had texted boss Philippe Clement the night before to "declare himself unavailable" for the game, wanting to avoid a potential injury that would complicate any move away this winter. Within a matter of moments, Fabrizio Romano reported that Toronto FC had tabled a bid worth $18 million, with the Saint Louis, Missouri native keen to move closer to home.

Clearly, Orlando will face fierce competition if they choose to chase Sargent's signature. But his goal record looks good, right?

Netting some 51 league goals in his three-and-a-half-year spell in the Sky Bet Championship, he has attracted past interest from Premier League side Leeds United and Bundesliga regulars VfL Wolfsburg. His recent returns have been so impressive that, at least as of last year's CONCACAF Nations League, he'd worked his way back into Mauricio Pochettino's plans for this summer's FIFA World Cup, despite not scoring for his nation in half a decade.

On his day, Sargent would probably be the best striker in Major League Soccer. But, as someone who's watched him week in, week out ever since his move to Norwich, there are far too many flaws in his game to ever make him value for money in a league with such strict roster regulations as ours.

Hit and miss

Sargent is unbelievably inconsistent. Bagging six goals in the opening month of this season, he then went over three months without scoring.

Yes, Norwich were probably the worst side in the entire league under former boss Liam Manning, but it's not as if he's been completely starved of service. Missing thirteen big chances already this term, he's been the joint-most wasteful striker alongside Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway.

What's more, he tends to go missing in games against some of the league's meanest opposition. He's not a striker who creates chances all by himself, something that should really be expected of someone who'll command such a huge transfer fee and a Designated Player-level wage.

In Óscar Pareja's counter-attacking system, one that usually favours pacey wingers over lethal strikers, I don't think Sargent will receive the service he needs to truly shine.

Not another injury-prone striker...

Let's face it, the last thing Orlando need is another striker who'll only be fit for six months each year.

Missing large chunks of two of his first three seasons with Norwich through a recurring ankle issue, an unrelated groin injury ruled Sargent out for the crucial two-month festive period last season.

Such problems have been averted so far this term bar a nasty concussion that ruled him out for most of December, but Norwich fans know that his next long-term injury could happen at any moment and will probably blight any future spell with Toronto or elsewhere.

McGuire, on the other hand, deserves a proper run of games in the team to truly regain his match fitness and rediscover that form we all know he's capable of. Of course, we're still in desperate need of depth there, but Sargent should not be the man tasked at providing that.

Not another Muriel...

Sargent's very recent track record of loyalty to Norwich - the very least expected of any footballer - unfortunately blinded fans to the way he downed tools at former club Werder Bremen in order to force through a move to the Premier League.

Four-and-a-half years later, he's done the same again. Refusing to play against Walsall is a slap in the face to both fans and club, who were willing to let him depart last summer before the player himself turned down a move.

Sargent is only forcing a move to Major League Soccer to try and reignite fleeting hopes of making Pochettino's squad this summer, not because he actually wants to play here.

Orlando do not need another Muriel, whose fitness and lack of effort in purple made it pretty obvious he thought he was too good for this league. His antics this off-season only confirm that.