Norwich City's Premier League struggles will continue unless they can get the best out of star striker Teemu Pukki, according to journalist Stuart Hodge.

How have Norwich performed this season?

Having suffered relegation from the top flight in 2020, Norwich sealed an immediate return to the Premier League by securing their second Championship title in three seasons.

However, the Canaries are still searching for their first point of the campaign and remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table after six consecutive defeats.

Other than a 6-0 hammering of Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup last month, Daniel Farke's side have scored just two goals this term.

Both of those goals have come from Finland international frontman Pukki, who also found the back of the net 26 times as Norwich were crowned champions last season.

However, head coach Farke claimed the 2-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend gave him some encouragement and urged his side to be more clinical if they want to turn their campaign around.

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What has Stuart Hodge said about the situation?

Norwich are adjusting to life without Emiliano Buendia, who grabbed 15 goals and 17 assists last season.

The 24-year-old joined Aston Villa for a club record fee during the summer transfer window and Hodge thinks Farke needs to find a way of getting Pukki into more goalscoring positions.

He told GMS: "The big problem for Norwich City is trying to make sure that this new system utilises Teemu Pukki to his best ability because that is not happening yet.

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"He's a guy that likes to play on the shoulder and if Norwich City are counter attacking, which I think the 4-3-3 does allow better, there needs to be that cohesion happening.

"By taking Emi Buendia out of the equation, that cohesion at the top end of the pitch is not there yet."

Is Pukki capable of guiding Norwich away from danger?

Statistics show Pukki is a goalscorer, with him being on the scoresheet 69 times in 133 Norwich appearances.

Pukki, who joined the Canaries on a free transfer from Danish side Brondby in 2018, was the Championship's third most prolific player last season and also started all three of Finland's fixtures at Euro 2020.

The 31-year-old has already shown he can cause problems for Premier League defences, with him notching 11 goals despite Norwich finishing bottom of the standings in the 2019/20 season.

He even scored five goals in his first three outings in the division, so he clearly just needs to be presented with more opportunities by his team-mates.