City keeper Joe Lewis has declared himself more than happy with life beside the seaside after an England Under-21 standby call-up this week, but the on-loan Morecambe stopper has not quite given up hope of a Carrow Road career just yet.
First-team action is clearly the name of the game for the time being and after a loan switch this summer to the League Two newcomers, things couldn't have gone much better for the Broome-born stopper.
A clean sheet on his debut was followed by a heroic performance in the famous 2-1 Carling Cup victory at local rivals Preston and the 6ft 5 keeper is relishing life in the firing line.
For now at least, League Two will do just fine.
“I'm really enjoying it at Morecambe,” said Lewis.
“It's taken a little while to settle in, but after a week or so I was fine and they are all good lads so it's good.
“It's a great set-up here. They've got themselves up to the Football League and now they are here, hopefully Morecambe can establish themselves as a League club.
“We've had a mixed start, drawing one and losing one in the league but we won in the Carling Cup which was a great result.
“I was delighted with my own performances in the first two games, the league draw and the Cup win at Preston, but not quite so much in the result at Wrexham where we lost 2-1.
“But, to be honest, it's just great to get first-team football. At Norwich, I was sometimes on the bench and there was a chance of getting on but I could have been waiting forever to get into the first-team.”
You get the impression that another season rotting in the reserves at Norwich just didn't appeal to Lewis. The much maligned Pontins League doesn't offer much in terms of real match experience.
To get a taste of what football is really about, you need to be there in between the sticks, facing the wrath of the home fans stood behind you.
That is what will make a man of you ? playing in front of one man and his dog at Grays Athletic on a wet Monday night for the second string will get you absolutely nowhere.
“The reserve league that Norwich play in isn't the best,” admitted Lewis.
“It wasn't that competitive and it's nothing compared to first-team football. When you are playing for the first eleven there is more pressure on you and if you make mistakes it costs people their jobs.
“You are playing in front of fanatical fans and that is what you become a footballer for, playing under that sort of pressure.
“At the moment it is the aim to come back to Norwich to fight for a first-team place. They are keeping a close eye on me.
“The plan is to go back there in January and see what the score is and obviously try and get into the first-team.
“If not, I might have to go out on loan again but to come back to Norwich and push on is my target.”
And as for the England recognition, had it come like a bolt out of the blue for the Canary youth product?
After all, there aren't too many hot, young English prospects out there playing week in, week out.
In their 1-1 draw with Romania at Ashton Gate last night, the Under-21s toyed with Manchester City reserve Joe Hart and Tottenham back-up Ben Alnwick in either half in an attempt to impress boss Stuart Pearce.
The fact that Lewis is featuring on a regular basis in the hussle and bussle of the Football League will not do his chances any harm whatsoever.
Over to you Joe?
“The England call came as a surprise to be honest. I didn't actually know until the EDP in Norwich called me up and said: 'Congratulations…' so it all came as a shock.
“Stuart Pearce hasn't actually contacted me but in his Press conference he said I was on standby and very much in his thoughts.
“It was a funny way to find out but it is just great to be in the reckoning. Hopefully I can get some games under my belt this season and push myself into the squad.
“The fact that I'm playing regular first-team football has obviously helped and I was delighted to be told that I'm in Stuart Pearce's thoughts for the Under-21s.
“Hopefully, further down the line I might get the nod but at the moment it is just great to be thought of in that bracket because there are some great goalkeepers out there.”
Tom Haylett
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