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Jamie all set for a second home debut as Canaries hit full dress rehearsal time

31st July 2007 By Latest News Leave a Comment

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His first proper, home debut came all of 13 years ago – on Fireworks Night in 1994. A 0-0 draw with Everton; a game sadly lacking the kind of sparkle that the one-time City youth star would invariably produce in front of goal.

Tonight and Jamie Cureton makes his second home debut, albeit in the 'friendly' surroundings of this evening's Carrow Road clash with West Ham United.

“Will there be a tingle down the spine? Yeh, definitely – it'll be great,” said the prodigal son after this summer's ?800,000-odd return from Layer Road.

“Playing my first game, putting the kit on again was great, but to play out here will be special.

“I'm hearing that there'll be a lot of fans coming; there's a few old friends on the other team too – Bobby Zamora, Bellars (Craig Bellamy) – so it'll be a big night for me.”

There is little doubt that he will be warmly welcomed. Travel to Holland and at the end of the opening tour game against Apeldoorn and there was the 31-year-old happily posing for the post-match 'team' shots with the livelier section of Norwich's travelling support.

He won't be short of well-wishers in the Snake Pit or the Barclay as he relaunches his Canary career against Alan Curbishley's star-studded Hammers.

Does it almost feel as if he's never been away?

“It's a bit strange. I suppose sometimes I look around and it feels as if I haven't,” said Cureton, whose travels over the last 11 years have taken him up and down the M4 corridor and from there to South Korea – always with goals in tow.

He would, however, swiftly admit that a big part of his heart has always remained in this corner of the world.

“I wander round town and friends are coming out from all over the shop, so it's definitely different from joining a new club,” he said.

“Even though it's been 11 years, I seem to have sort of fitted in quite well and just mingled in like I've been here all the time. Don't know – it is very strange. A bit weird at times when I sit down and think about it,” said Cureton, speaking at the launch of a new affinity deal between the Canaries and the RAC.

Every City supporter who signs up with the RAC will be entitled to 15% off breakdown cover and an exclusive co-branded supporter pack. In addition to this, NCFC will receive ?10 from every sign-up – a tie-in that is designed to re-coup the club “a five-figure” sum every season.

In the meantime, however, all eyes will be on tonight's dress rehearsal – a game that will be shown live on Setanta, as the Irish TV broadcaster looks to win more Premiership hearts by beaming such largely innocuous games back into East End living rooms.

“I feel good,” said Cureton, quizzed as to his own form and fitness going into this week's final warm-up games with the Hammers' clash to be followed by Friday night's UEFA Cup 're-match' with Vitesse Arnhem.

“The games have gone well; I've felt my sharpness is coming; training has been good; I've worked hard; feel fit. And, hopefully, I can sharpen up a bit more over the next week before the season starts.

“I feel good. I feel as good as I have.”

He is, clearly, settling in fast. Yesterday's return of Darel Russell merely added another familiar face to the place.

“It's been good – it's been nice to settle in and get used to everything again,” said Cureton. “And the week away was good. We got to room with different people and got to know people a bit more so it's been enjoyable.”

Ideally, he is now on more than first name terms with his likely strike partner – his big, Czech mate David Strihavka.

Needless to say, Cureton's Czech is a bit hit and miss; Strihavka's English is starting to get there – a cultural trip to the cinema helped.

“We took him out to watch Transformers the other day and the first word he said after an hour was 'Stupid!', so we're trying…

“But he's good. He's really trying his hardest to learn English and obviously being in the hotel with a few of the boys, we get him to try and do as much as possible. And the more he hears people speak, going to the cinema and things like that, he picks up a lot more.

“So, we're trying our best – and he seems fine.”

Tonight's game will be a test for all concerned. As much as all concerned will be tip-toeing around eachother with one eye of avoiding doing a Jimmy Smith on the eve of the new season, Alan Curbishley's new-look Hammers side will be bristling with big names with big reputations to uphold.

Bellamy is not exactly one of life's shrinking violets; Australian full-back and new Hammers skipper Lucas Neill has probably never tip-toed around anyone in his life.

Carlos Tevez is, however, on holiday in Spain as the Argentinian striker waits for the lawyers to sort out his switch to Manchester United.

For Cureton, first and foremost the game is about sharpening up the senses for August 11 – that and ensuring that your name is penned in for the trip to Deepdale.

“This is obviously a massive test playing against a Premiership side who are going to be bang at it as well,” he said.

“And the manager's going to be looking at who he's looking to pair people with; looking at the structure of the eleven and we'll be looking to give a good performance for personal reasons – to try and be in his eleven.

“So it'll be a competitive game on our part and we'll be trying to pick things up through those two games. Because after that it is into the season so Tuesday and Friday are big games for everyone I think.”

There is, of course, one other familiar face lying in wait for Cureton tonight – Hammers keeper Robert Green, who makes his first return to Carrow Road following his switch to the Premiership with the East End club.

“It would be nice to get one past him,” said Cureton. “He was a bit young when I was here, but it would definitely be nice to get one past him and to keep my form going.

“Be nice to get a goal. My first time out here for a while, so – yes – it would be good.”

Suffice to say, a Cureton goal would likewise go down a treat with the natives. The boy is back.


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blakleyfreddie Freddie Blakley II @blakleyfreddie ·
43m

Good game this week @NorthCarolinaFC. @GMclaughlin_ the ref was blind. All the penalties they did to you she didn't call waa a shame. Louis Perez has talent. And cannot wait to see what he does this year. I got one word for you.....RAAAAFFFAAA @rafaduizit. #ncfc

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gwelham18 Gareth Welham @gwelham18 ·
46m

Next season Ipswich do the double on us #NCFC

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gleeder1 Graham Leeder 🔰 @gleeder1 ·
3h

If Webber's job title was 'Operations Director' then he could rightly be proud of the training facility at #ncfc , however he is Sporting Director which also emcompasses recruitment and for that reason he can't be given any more transfer windows. Time to go. #webberout

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ncfc_cam cam @ncfc_cam ·
3h

I mean this is a very hot take 🤣

But whilst on the subject, I’d be intrigued to see Daniel at a big club with big players.

I’d argue at #NCFC his system and tactics were only flawed because the personnel wasn’t good enough. With the right players, it’d be special.

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ncfc_adam Adam @ncfc_adam ·
4h

God twitter’s a depressing place when #ncfc lose. Even worse when that lot are doing so well

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