He had a loan to League Two because he didn't get the chance w/ Norwich. So that's circular reasoning. Being a reserve captain, at a pretty young age like he was, means he was trusted on the field for their 2nd team. The next step is proving you can be trusted for their 1st team. That can only happen w/ opportunities. That's how a functional integration system should work. The guy got one appearance in the league, and he wasn't to be seen from again. A debut, which to my recollection wasn't even a disaster, isn't anything to draw from. There's a gripe here that he was sold Norwich as a development club, yet the only shots he's gotten at the top-level were meager, after succeeding for their youth/reserve team.
No. It's that it's hard for a youngster break through in pro football (and basketball: and hockey: and rugby: and every other pro sport) and it's especially hard if you're trying to do it in the richest league in the world, where a club can go out and buy an experienced WC last-16 international for what that league considers to be chump change. His exact contemporary at Norwich, Ireland's Tony Springett, is also going out on loan, to promotion-chasing Derby county. Bali Mumba, who's an England youth international, a year older and for whom Norwich had to pay a decent transfer fee, is out on loan in League One after not quite making the breakthrough on loan in the Championship last season. As for having been reserve team captain (was that for the season or for a handful games?), there have been many, many of those who never made it to the first team at their club or any other club. It's a tough business and being American has eff all to do with it.
No pro player, or amateur player for that matter, ever gets PT from any coach. He takes it away from another player and fights off other players who want to take it away from him. Tomkinson's debut "wasn't even a disaster" is absolutely no support for your argument. At the very minimum, it needed to be excellent. That gives coaches the selection headaches that they dream of, because the more good players available, the better his chances of holding on to his job. Whether you like it or not, Norwich has had an excellent track record as a development club in recent years. That is an acknowledged fact in the English game, which means that Tomkinson either isn't good enough, yet, and needs a loan to bridge the gap from prospect to pro, or he is good enough, in which case entering beast mode at Stevenage is the best way of showing it, no?
🚨NEW YT VIDEO! 🚨@YouthNorwich put together a highlight video of Jon Tomkinson, every touch Vs Sutton United. All of his duels/passes/blocks included. LINK: https://t.co/VA9hZvlfTQ#NCFC #StevenageFC #EFL pic.twitter.com/czU3yGykUF— NorwichYouth (@YouthNorwich) February 8, 2023
On the bench: Come on YOU BORO! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oBu3goRkrz— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) February 11, 2023 Subbed in just before the half: Stevenage FC @StevenageFC 45+3' - After picking up a knock, Luther James-Wildin is forced off and replaced by Jonathan Tomkinson. 1-0 Leading 1-0 at the start of the 2nd.
On the bench after a couple of weeks away: COYB. 🫵 pic.twitter.com/eFNLYC672p— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) February 28, 2023
Came in at the half: Stevenage FC @StevenageFC Three changes at the break. Daryl Horgan, Jake Taylor & Jake Reeves OFF. Michael Bostwick, Jonathan Tomkinson & Jordan Roberts ON. 1-0 Came back to win 3-2.
Started: Your Boro XI! 💯 pic.twitter.com/85iJhUGvgr— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) March 4, 2023 Out in an early double sub shortly after going 2-0 down. Safe to say it wasn't an injury sub. Stevenage FC @StevenageFC 32' - Double sub... Jake Forster-Caskey & Jonathan Tomkinson OFF. Jake Taylor & Kane Smith ON. 2-0 http://bit.ly/SFCiFollow
On the bench: Your Boro starting XI. 💯 pic.twitter.com/q1o9xr65IA— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) March 11, 2023
On the bench after a long time away: COYB! 💪 pic.twitter.com/DXMw7dKiln— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) April 22, 2023 DNP in 1-0 loss.
Started the last match of the season: Your final Boro XI of the season. 🫵 pic.twitter.com/p7Tog6J2Su— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) May 8, 2023 Leading 1-0 in the 68th.
On the bench for a friendly: Our lineup 👇A first day out in Norwich colours for @shaneduffy 🙌 pic.twitter.com/l3ne1iHKnp— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 8, 2023
Starts the 2nd half: And for the second half... 👇 pic.twitter.com/hI6SyTC03f— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 8, 2023
Played the final 15 minutes of a friendly: Norwich City: Krul, Stacey (Mumba 61), Duffy (Omobamidele 61), Gibson (Tomkinson 74), Giannoulis (McCallum 61), McLean (C) (Springett 74), Gibbs (Sørensen h-t), Núñez (Tzolis h-t), Hernández (Płacheta 61), Rowe (Idah 61), Sargent (Barnes h-t).
Starts 2nd half of a friendly: We've made 8️⃣ changes during the break 🔁🔴 #FCK 0-0 #NCFC 🟡 (46) pic.twitter.com/cFhZRpXW3S— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 15, 2023 Ended 0-0.
Going on loan to Bradford City in League Two: Defender Jonathan Tomkinson has joined Bradford City on loan for the remainder of the season.Best of luck, JT 🤝— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) September 6, 2023
Made his debut: 🔁 84' | SUBSTITUTION | A final City switch, and another debut, as Jon Tomkinson comes on for Sam Stubbs. 🐓 0-1 🐟#BCAFC | #BRAvGRI | @Hurtleyph pic.twitter.com/FEq7UiOdBO— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) September 9, 2023
Went 90' in a 3-0 EFL Trophy win: 📋 TEAM NEWS | Kevin McDonald names 10 changes from Saturday, as Freddy Jeffreys makes his full debut for the Bantams. ➡️ | Read: https://t.co/dctWWmKQSc#BCAFC | @NrthrnKitchenBD pic.twitter.com/jEG6qp4Y15— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) October 31, 2023
On the bench: 📋 TEAM NEWS | Unchanged from the weekend, ahead of tonight's trip to @FGRFC_Official. ➡️ | Read: https://t.co/TfPeI3hKIK#BCAFC | @NrthrnKitchenBD pic.twitter.com/6q1g6AWNvV— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) November 28, 2023
Starts in EFL Trophy match: 📋 TEAM NEWS | Graham Alexander has named three changes from last week’s victory over Forest Green Rovers, ahead of this evening’s @BSM_Trophy visit of @LFC Under-21s.➡️ | Read: https://t.co/GkWpiE4wF8#BCAFC | @NrthrnKitchenBD pic.twitter.com/XeFMUsKDHm— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) December 5, 2023