• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

My Football Writer

My Football Writer Norwich City news… comment… analysis

Norwich City – news, comment and analysis

Find the best betting sites
  • Home
  • About us
  • The Team
  • Archives Index
  • Patreon
  • ADVERTISE
  • Contact us

Hughton ready to usher Hoolahan and Tettey back into his plans as the Canaries look to add to Wigan's recent woes

14th December 2012 By Rick Waghorn Leave a Comment

Please share

That little bit of Irish magic and, maybe, some missing midfield muscle could be back at Chris Hughton’s disposal this weekend as the Canaries prepare to play host to struggling Wigan Athletic.

Wes Hoolahan and Alexander Tettey were both absent from Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup quarter-final clash with Aston Villa as City’s recent, barn-storming unbeaten run ended at the ten-game mark with that 4-1 home defeat by Paul Lambert and Co.

And in the brief post-mortem that followed said exit, both names were mentioned – as in Hoolahan tending to oil the wheels of Norwich’s forward momentum as the hard-running Tettey matches midfield partner Bradley Johnson tackle for ball-winning tackle.

Both players have figured large in an unbeaten Premier League run that still stretches back to the first week in October – cup events notwithstanding.

And, on paper, the visit of the Latics – locked in the drop zone after four defeats in their last six outings – offers an ideal opportunity to bounce back from Tuesday night’s disappointments and leap-frog into the top half of the table on the back of a fifth straight home league success.

That, of course, is the theory. In practice, the visit of Wigan has ‘banana skin’ written large all over it; most would be that little bit more reassured that normal service was about to be resumed if the names of Hoolahan and Tettey figured on tomorrow’s team-sheet.

Boss Hughton was hopeful as the Canaries gear up for a busy festive spell still sat very pretty in 12th. Depending on the way other results fall, victory could even see the Norfolk side sit 7th in the table come five o’clock tomorrow. At which point memories of quarter-final cup exits will have swiftly faded.

“Tettey and Hoolahan both come into contention for Saturday,” the City chief confirmed at the pre-match Press conference this week.

Yesterday’s particularly inclement weather didn’t make for an easy return to first team action, but needs maybe must as the Canary chief looks for an immediate response from Tuesday.

“It was a difficult day training because of the conditions,” he said. “And we weren’t able to do enough on the surface that we would have liked, but it was still a decent enough day, so they come into contention.”

Hughton also has a decision to make on Steven Whittaker after the Scot also missed the cup exit; Russell Martin returning to right-back as Leon Barnett paired up with Sebastien Bassong in the middle of that usually stubborn City defence.

With Ryan Bennett not expected to figure and Michael Turner still feeling his way back from injury, Whittaker’s return could allow for Martin’s return to centre-half.

“We will assess Steven Whittaker tomorrow – he hasn’t done any training this weekend, we just need to make sure that he’s right,” said Hughton.

He certainly wasn’t under-estimating the ability of Wigan to upset the Norwich apple cart. Boss Roberto Martinez is no mug and has proved time and again that he knows how to dig the Latics out of a relegation scrap.

Danger lies straight ahead.

“Wigan are a very good side and sometimes the circumstances are that you find yourself in a place in the league which you might feel is a false position.

“It certainly surprises me a bit where they are at the moment,” said Hughton. “So our approach has to be exactly the same as it would be for any other game because it will be very tough.”

Make it ten unbeaten in the league and the Canaries will fly into Christmas and the New Year – and who knows what Santa might have in his sack when it comes to January’s transfer window?

“We know what we need to put in to get a result. And it’s about bouncing back and trying to get on track again. As with any defeat, it is about a reaction – and I expect a very good reaction on Saturday.”


Please share

Filed Under: none

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

FIND MY FOOTBALL WRITER ON

As featured on NewsNow: Norwich City news” style=

Norwich City News 24/7

#NCFC LATEST

punchdrunkafc Punch Drunk Arsenal @punchdrunkafc ·
58m

🔴⚪️ | 🗣: Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano says Marquinhos’ loan move to Norwich City is done 👍

“Deal signed between Arsenal and Norwich for Marquinhos. Loan move completed as medical also done and official statement to follow.” #AFC #COYG #NCFC

Reply on Twitter 1620310680724467715 Retweet on Twitter 1620310680724467715 Like on Twitter 1620310680724467715 4 Twitter 1620310680724467715
ethanmedler_ Ethan Medler 🏳️‍🌈 @ethanmedler_ ·
1h

Good Morning #NCFC

Reply on Twitter 1620310221284597763 Retweet on Twitter 1620310221284597763 Like on Twitter 1620310221284597763 3 Twitter 1620310221284597763
jokey_7 Jokey @jokey_7 ·
2h

🚨 Official and Confirmed. Norwich City has agreed to sign Marquinhos on a season-long loan from Arsenal. Soon, official statement. 🤝🇧🇷 #NCFC

Marquinhos has passed his medicals and will join Norwich City for the rest of the season. There is no buy-out clause included.

Reply on Twitter 1620301071305547776 Retweet on Twitter 1620301071305547776 Like on Twitter 1620301071305547776 1 Twitter 1620301071305547776
confirm_deals Soccer Transfers @confirm_deals ·
4h

Done Deal! #Marquinhos to #Norwich from #Arsenal on loan. #transfers #NCFC #AFC

Reply on Twitter 1620266323669573632 Retweet on Twitter 1620266323669573632 Like on Twitter 1620266323669573632 Twitter 1620266323669573632
nicoschira Nicolò Schira @nicoschira ·
4h

Done Deal! #Marquinhos to #Norwich from #Arsenal on loan. #transfers #NCFC #AFC

Reply on Twitter 1620265917925175296 Retweet on Twitter 1620265917925175296 3 Like on Twitter 1620265917925175296 33 Twitter 1620265917925175296
Load More...

Copyright © 2023 21VC Ltd | All rights reserved | Not to be reproduced without prior permission.

Disclaimer: The information on this website consists of personal opinions. Whilst we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained on these Web pages is accurate and correct at the time of writing we do not accept any liability whatsover for any loss or damage caused by reliance on this information.

We do not accept any responsibility for information contained in other websites to which this site links. We strongly advise users to check any information before acting or relying on it.

Developed and Hosted by