Jonathan Rowe on adapting to life at Marseille: 'I had to look at the bigger picture'

Jonathan Rowe was one of the more surprising names to arrive in Ligue 1 McDonald's in the summer, leaving his formative club Norwich City to join Olympique de Marseille on a loan deal with an eventual obligation to buy.

The Englishman, at the age of 21, decided to leave behind the English Championship for 'Le Volcan' of the Vélodrome. During his early appearances for the club, he would open his goalscoring account in style with a dramatic late winner against rivals Olympique Lyonnais (3-2), before going on to get on the scoresheet at home to Angers a few weeks later (1-1).

After a prolonged period of the season on the bench, Rowe was back in goal-scoring action this weekend during Marseille's 5-1 win over Montpellier. There were encouraging signs from the winger last week during the first half OM's loss to Monaco at Stade Louis II, where Rowe showed his pace, was physically present, and was an interesting outlet option in-behind the Monegasque defence.

'Even though I was down some days - I had to look at the bigger picture'

Back on the bench against Montpellier, the Englishman came on in the 65th minute and took his chance in style. Rowe latched onto Ulisses Garcia’s well-timed ball to the near post and pulled off a flamboyant flick past Lecomte in the 73rd minute. It was certainly the pick of the bunch on a goal-laden evening for Les Marseillais.

Following the game, Rowe would say it was "an honour" to score a goal of that calibre at the Vélodrome. "Everyone knows that this is one of the best stadiums in the world."

But it hasn't been easy for Rowe, with a period of cultural adaptation and change. "It's been difficult for me personally, this whole season it's been a big change coming from Norwich where I was a key player in the team," said Rowe to Ligue1.com after the game.

WATCH: Rowe scores as five-star Marseille retake second place

“I’ve embraced it, but it’s been difficult. I wasn’t in the starting XI a lot of times and it affected me a bit. I think everyone could see that, but I carried on – and that was that main thing.”

“Even though I was down some days - I had to look at the bigger picture which is that collectively as a team we have a goal, an objective (the Champions League) and I have to do as much as I can to help that.”

Les Olympiens managed to reclaim second spot in the Ligue 1 McDonald's table following their win over Montpellier, and Monaco drawing to Strasbourg. OM will be facing Stade Brestois at the Vélodrome next week hoping to consolidate their UEFA Champions League hopes with four games left of the season to go.

With some promising performances of late, will Rowe be able to further contribute to Marseille's all-important run-in at the end of the season to try and bring Champions League football to the Vélodrome next season.

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>>Marseille back to winning ways against Montpellier