With the first Premier League fixture at Fulham now five weeks away, Chris Hughton is excited at the prospect of returning to top-flight management. Picture: Steve Adams

Chris Hughton set to continue his Norwich City voyage of discovery

David Cuffley Saturday, July 14, 2012
7:30 AM

Norwich City’s senior squad fly to Austria tomorrow for a week of training followed by their first pre-season game – in what manager Chris Hughton admits will be something of a fact-finding mission.

The Canaries returned to work at Colney on Monday after a break of nearly seven weeks, giving Hughton, assistant Colin Calderwood and first team coach Paul Trollope their first chance to work with the players.

But getting away from home soil for a more intensive training schedule will give the new boss a better look at the squad he has inherited.

He said: “My first impressions are good impressions but I expected that. I came into the job knowing the team, knowing what had been achieved and how they achieved it. I knew there was a good spirit among the players and that’s what I’ve seen from day one.

“I have a good opportunity next week because we go away for a week’s training abroad, so there will be a big squad that travels and, of course, it gives me the opportunity to get to know all of them.”

Midfielder Tom Adeyemi, who was on crutches at the end of last season because of an injury he suffered in a reserve game, is the only likely absentee from the travelling party.

“At the moment Tom is probably two or three weeks away, but apart from him – he really needs to be here – I’ll more or less take everybody,” said Hughton.

“David Fox missed training today but he’ll probably be training on Monday. That’s something very, very small, minimal, and it’s only Tom that’s got the effects of the injury picked up last season.”

New signing Jacob Butterfield will travel but is not ready to resume full training as he recovers from the knee injury he suffered with Barnsley.

“Jacob picked up an injury last season so he’s going to be a few weeks behind everybody else but he’ll come with us next week and he’ll be able to do some work with us as well,” said Hughton, who is not unduly worried by the continuing legal dispute over his other summer capture, former Rangers defender Steve Whittaker.

“All of that side I’m leaving to administrators at the club,” he said. “I’m just pleased to have him on the training pitch, he’s a good addition for us.

“I can only deal with the football side but I do understand it’s an issue on people’s minds.”

Striker Grant Holt, armed with a new three-year contract, had trained well, said Hughton.

“I would say from what I’ve seen in the last five days, he’s trained well and he looks happy,” said Hughton. “I think for him it was a big weight off his shoulders that we got to the right and sensible conclusion that has left both parties happy, and you can see that in him.”

The Canaries face German side Hertha Berlin next Saturday at Gleisdorf in Austria, their first pre-season match before returning for six domestic warm-up games, starting with the trip to Celtic on Tuesday, July 24.

With the first Premier League fixture at Fulham now five weeks away, Hughton is excited at the prospect of returning to top-flight management.

“There have been a lot of mixed emotions. I really enjoyed the season and being at Birmingham, so it wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “But the draw of coming here after the successes of last season was too good an opportunity to turn down.

“It’s been fairly full on from the moment I took the job but in any job you do you have to put everything into it. You have to be grateful for what you’ve left behind but your focus has to be on the job.

“It’s a massive draw to go back to the Premier League. In our profession, if you’re striving to be managing at top level, the Premier League is where you want to be. For me, whether it’s the best league in the world is very much open to question with the qualities of La Liga and so on but it’s certainly the most exciting league in the world and absolutely where you want to be. This opportunity came and it’s a wonderful opportunity for me.”

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23 comments

I tried wernce more. I give up. Ye gods!

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Mad Brewer

Monday, July 16, 2012
An attempt with a bit of content...... gone.

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Mad Brewer

Monday, July 16, 2012
There you go, no content is OK.

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Mad Brewer

Monday, July 16, 2012
That`s a hat-trick of etherings already today.

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Mad Brewer

Monday, July 16, 2012
Some pubs used to do that pint feature with cockles and winkles in these paaarts, Swiss. Now they sell them in little autoclaved jars. I remember a backstreet pub in Naaaridge where they only had a beer licence and only one draught beer on offer- Morgan`s Mild. The food offering was limited to arrowroot biscuits with free weevils! canarydownunder, anything I send to this board that has any football content is...... guess!

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Mad Brewer

Monday, July 16, 2012
Certainly a 'voyage of discovery' on this board, at least in regards to beer! As regards, to discovering the latest NCFC news, one is often better served on other sites in my experience.

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canarydownunder

Monday, July 16, 2012
A pint of puns there Brewer, I can't keep up. Years back, I used to holiday with the in-laws at West Wittering and the local brewery was Badgers. The local pub used to do pint glasses with fresh-cooked prawns in so you could order, "A pint of prawns and a pint of Badgers". There's country for yer.

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Swiss Canary

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Swiss, I`m surprised The Brewers didn`t elect to call themselves "Burton Union" in recognition of that unique method of fermentation. That`d be a Pedigree team with fans all intoning the songs in deep Bass voices. That was so contrived. `E`, not Worthy! ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Hi Brewer, I did not know that BA were known as "The Brewers" but it makes sense! I also see that PL was talking about taking Andy-Pandy Carroll on a loaner. It looks like Spurs have invested in some interesting Euro-talent this year and will be a tough nut to crack again, though the WHL match was the best of the season for me, or at least joint top with Swansea away.

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Swiss Canary

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Swiss, I`ve had a peep @ the Birmingham Mail now, so I guessed right ref the friendly! Sorry to be so obtuse. Too long in Shawshank!

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Sorry Swiss, no disrespect intended. The Burton Albion comment eluded me. And still does!! Have AV already played a pre-season friendly versus The Brewers?? Put me out of my misery, please! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Sunday, July 15, 2012
I doubt whether any of the Aspirin Vanilla players understood much of what was being said either Brewer !

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Timbo

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Are you referring to me oh Mad One, or to "Hughton's voyage of discovery"?

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Swiss Canary

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Not for the first time, I do not understand what`s being said here! I swear.

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Hats off to Billy, that is outstanding research. I had never heard of James Nursey before but his 4 Tweets about the training session at Colney are the most informative thing I have seen so far. Also, I had to cut n' past his report from Burton Albion v Aston Villa, when Burton went one up in Lambo's first game in charge, "Sitting 6 rows behind the away dug-out. ‪#AVFC‬ trailing 1-0 to Burton. Good job no swear box near Paul Lambert!!"

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Swiss Canary

Saturday, July 14, 2012
He was also apparently very happy with the work of Elliot Bennett and Russell Martin, so maybe the RB rift which people seem to be going on about might not be so high up on his wishlist, although LB I think should be looked at, even with the return of Tierney.

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Billy

Saturday, July 14, 2012
The training session was brilliantly documented by James Nursey, saying about how Chris Hughton was etc. Interesting how the training was all about 2 touches and passing football, we played some fantastic passing moves and intricate stuff towards the end of the season, I wonder if that's what Chris will be encouraging, seemed to be all about possession, which makes next season's prospects very interesting.

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Billy

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Unfortunately my plans to sneak off to Austria to watch the lads have been poxed by some business travel.

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Swiss Canary

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Dubai, I would say they will leave them in the Woolpack, as they cannot find Colney what hope have they of finding Austria! Good to see not only CM being the frame but all the the others.

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Singapore Canary

Saturday, July 14, 2012
I wonder is they will be allowing any of the Archant clan to go with them to Austria, or, will they leave them at the Woolpack (AKA the Prospect House Canteen) ?

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Dubai Canary

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Oh no! The weekend Moderators are on duty. Ethered already. Badness. Colby, agree on Chris Martin. There is still hope for him. OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Agreed, Colby. I still nurse hopes that Chris Martin will make it. He has the skill, ability etc. It`s whether he has the desire to push himself. Hoots will have to get inside his head! Isn`t it strange to have a manager with such a serene disposition? And such a softly-spoken manner. He`s a right whippet on the training field; looks fit enough to still be playing! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Saturday, July 14, 2012
nice to see Chris Martin in the picture and i am sure all the players will be happy that they can understand the English spoken.

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Colby Army!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Jonny Howson nets Norwich City £3m for new signings

Chris Hughton insists he will spend his summer transfer windfall wisely after Jonny Howson’s multi-million pound goal boost to Norwich’s close season coffers.

Read full story »