City's man-of-the-moment Tom Adeyemi admitted yesterday that he's targeting a starting berth for the season opener against Colchester in less than two weeks time.
And if he scores many more like his first-half thunderbolt against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester Utd XI yesterday, Canary chief Bryan Gunn will find it hard to leave him on the sidelines.
The former Norwich School pupil was the standout player in the first 45 but with Stephen Hughes, Owain Tudur Jones and Matt Gill for company, he'll do well to hold on to his first-team shirt.
But he's playing with the big boys now and he sure doesn't look out of place. A regular in City's pre-season expolits so far, Adeyemi is relishing the step up to first-team level. At this rate, he's here to stay.
“We played them [Utd] in the youth team last year and they were outstanding compared to where I was then,” admitted the well-spoken youngster.
“But I feel I've come a long way in a short space of time to be able to match up to them. I'm just going to keep working really hard and come the first game of the season, hopefully I'll be in and around the first team again.”
And was being part of the senior set-up helping him move his game forward? After all, he's only a tender 17-years-old…
“Yeah I think so. A lot of the senior players are helping me to progress my game and talking me through things so that has been a big help.”
As for his performance and goal yesterday, well, it really was the stuff dreams are made of. And the powerful midfielder was planning to savour the moment, even if he couldn't savour the man-of-the-match champagne – legally at least.
“It was an amazing feeling and it's a dream come true to score at Carrow Road,” Adeyemi continued.
“It was quite a good goal, I'm not normally known for my shooting ability but it was good to score like that today. The ball just came to me, I had a touch at my feet and I just went for it.
“I also felt my partnership with Owain [Tudur Jones] went really well because he's a more defensive kind of player, getting the ball from the back four, which allowed me to push forward and get my goal.”
However, with plenty of pals in the midfield department, Adeyemi knows it's going to be tough to get the nod come the 8th and that U's clash.
You'd think that Hughes is a certainty ? if he can prove his fitness. And Tudur Jones looked impressive alongside Adeyemi in the first-half; they certainly missed the Welshman's presence when he was taken off at the break.
And with Gill earmarked as Gary Doherty's vice captain along with Michael Nelson, Gunn clearly doesn't think the former Exeter man's a mug either.
It's going to be one hell of a battle, but to quote a clich?, it gives Gunn and Co a headache of the right kind.
“It's a really strong squad, I think there's going to be a lot of competition which is good, especially in midfield,” said the likeable midfielder.
“We've got Stephen [Hughes] to come in as well, so it's going to be tough but I'm up for the fight.
“When you see people come in, it's another person in between you and the first team but I'm confident enough in my own ability and that I can get past all of them and into the team. “
And were goals like yesterday's going to be a regular occurrence? If so, the Canary faithful are in for a real treat.
“Last year I got in the positions and I wasn't getting the goals, but so far I've had a few more shots and a few more goals. Hopefully I'll be able to continue that.”
Tom Haylett
Leave a Reply