Whilst his Canary team-mates will be hitting the treadmill hard and gearing up to face the likes of Lowestoft Town and Exeter, City defender Andrew Cave-Brown can look forward to the more glamorous prospect of a World Cup tie against the boys from Brazil.
The Gravesend-born full-back was recently named in the Scotland Under-20 squad for the upcoming World Cup – commencing on June 30th in Canada – and the Scots will be confident that they can negotiate their passage to the last 16 ? only Nigeria, Costa Rica and Japan stand between them.
After that, it's anyone's guess. The way the tournament is structured, even a third placed team can qualify from the group so Archie Gemmill's boys will find it hard to plan for any future opponents.
But, a third place finish could see a meeting with the Samba boys; not a bad way to be spending your summer I guess.
“Making the World Cup squad has always been the goal and I was absolutely thrilled to bits when I was named in the official party,” said Cave-Brown.
“I've been involved with the squad for a while and am obviously delighted that I have managed to keep my place.”
And as for Scotland's chances?could they emulate their remarkable achievement last summer when Cave-Brown's Under-19s made it all the way to the final of the European Championships, only to be beaten 2-1 by Spain?
“There is belief in the squad that we can go far in the tournament,” added Cave-Brown.
“In the European Championships last year, we got to the final and surprised a few people. We're on the world stage now and people should be more wary of us because we were expected to be the whipping boys and look how far we got.
“We expect to get through to the last 16 or the quarter finals at least and then we will see what happens but we are confident. We believe we can go a long way.”
Having experienced the rough and tumble of the Southern League during a loan spell with King's Lynn last season, Cave-Brown faces an all too different prospect this summer.
With all due respect to that division, you are not likely to be seeing many Ronaldinho-style tricks and flicks on a wet Tuesday night in Merthyr Tydfil.
But the Canary starlet is well aware that the World Cup will see him come face to face with some of the most talented young players that the world has to offer.
Maradona, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Luis Figo and Romario ? to name just a few ? have all shone on this stage and Cave-Brown believes the experience can only improve him as a player.
“It will be a different challenge for me, facing the best young players from all over the world and it can only better me as a player. I can then take that experience back to Norwich.
“It will be tough, no doubt about it, but this is what you dream about and games like this are why you want to become a footballer ? to face the best and improve yourself as a player.”
If the Scots make it all the way to the final then Cave-Brown ? who signed a one-year contract extension with the Canaries last season ? could be missing from Peter Grant's pre-season schedule until the end of July.
But, the young defender refuses to see it as a problem. After all, he'll be training and playing games just like the rest of his team-mates, just in a different continent that's all.
“I think the final is 23rd July so I could be missing until then. We meet up next Wednesday so that will be over a month if we make it all the way to the final and I would miss a lot of pre-season.
“My fitness won't be a problem though as I will be training hard and playing lots of games.”
After that, his thoughts will surely turn to a concerted push for a place in Grant's starting eleven. You get the impression that this season is 'make-or-break' for Cave-Brown.
Another season of reserve-team football and the City chief will find it hard to justify another extended deal.
“My aim after the tournament will be to get back to Norwich and push myself into the manager's thoughts straight away,” said Cave-Brown.
“Hopefully I can have a good tournament in the summer and impress him with my performances. That is what happened last year and I got my chance in the Carling Cup game down at Torquay but unfortunately I got injured for five months.
“Barring injuries, I'm confident I can get a run of games in the first-team and push on from there. Once you get that chance you need to grab it with both hands and not let it go, and that is exactly what I'll be looking to do should that chance come my way.”
There is no doubting his obvious talent and potential ? Grant wouldn't have offered him a brand new contract otherwise.
But with Jurgen Colin and new arrival Jon Otsemobor as competition, the fight for the No 2 spot will be one to keep an eye on – a certain Andy Hughes might have something to say in the matter too.
But Cave-Brown welcomed the news of City's first new face of the summer with refreshing maturity. An old head on young shoulders it seems?
“The signing of Otsemobor can only be a good thing for the club,” he revealed.
“He is a well-renowned player so hopefully I can learn off him. Players like that will only make me push even harder to get a place and make me a better player.
“Obviously if there wasn't anyone in front of me then I would be in the first-team already but the competition is great, it gives me that extra incentive and can only make me a better player.”
Tom Haylett
Leave a Reply