Norwich City goalkeeper Mark Bunn prepared for the big test that lies ahead

Mark Bunn punches clear against Everton.

Michael Bailey Wednesday, March 13, 2013
10:44 AM

Mark Bunn hopes his Norwich City form will see him keep the gloves in Chris Hughton’s starting XI – even when John Ruddy is fit enough to return to action.

Bunn’s summer arrival as back-up to the Canaries’ England goalkeeper looked an inspired piece of business from the moment Ruddy tore a thigh muscle in the draw at Everton in November.

The City number one is due to be back in full training before Norwich’s trip to Wigan on March 30, after which Ruddy will be hoping to get down to action with a view to not only helping out his club but also performing for his country.

Roy Hodgson’s England host a friendly with the Republic of Ireland on March 29, before travelling to Rio for a return friendly with Brazil on June 2.

But standing in his way is a man on form, who has now made more Premier League appearances than Ruddy this season and is just one short of his clean sheet total.

“Every goalkeeper wants to play,” said Bunn. “I didn’t expect to come into the team straight away, but unfortunately for John he’s been out with a long injury and I’ve got to be on top of my game to try to keep him out of the team.

“I think John will be fit in a couple of weeks, so I will just keep working hard and hopefully do my best out there on a matchday and hopefully retain my place.

“He looks fine. He is still been with the physios so he hasn’t actually taken a session with us yet, but I think in the next couple of weeks he should be training with us and then it’s down to the manager to pick who is playing. All I can do is keep doing what I am doing.

“I love playing – it’s been a while since I’ve played quite a few games. I’m enjoying it at the moment and I’ll just try and keep my place in the team.”

While some of the Canaries’ attacking short comings have annoyed a portion of the City support, few can argue with the form of 28-year-old Bunn.

And judging by his excellent save to deny a chip from Southampton’s Gaston Ramirez during Saturday’s goalless draw, he can do no wrong at the moment.

“It was a bit of a bad decision to come out,” he joked.

“But at least I stood up to save it and that was the main thing – to keep it out of the net.

“I’ve been delighted with my form really. It was a bit disappointing letting in four at Manchester United but against Southampton I was happy with the couple of saves that I made and it is always pleasing to keep a clean sheet.

“Yes, I think we should be worried (about the lack of goals). We struggled against Southampton to score and it has been disappointing that we have not been scoring, but hopefully we just keep working hard on the training pitch and that will come in future games.”

And those future games are big ones as Norwich City look to put to bed any unease over which division they will ply their trade in next season, with Sunday’s trip to Sunderland followed by that visit to Wigan after the international break.

“Southampton was a massive game – you just can’t afford to lose against the teams around you,” added Bunn. “Now we look to Sunderland and that is a massive game next, and hopefully we can get a win against them and then Wigan.

“I think Sunderland next week, that is a winnable game so hopefully we can look forward to that and get the three points.

“They are games against teams around us, so our main aim is not to lose those games, try to take a point away from home and win our home games. If we do that then we will be all right.”

“We don’t see ourselves as safe. I think we need a couple more wins and then I think we will be OK. We have got some crucial games coming up.”

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24 comments

Tom the taxi, have you ever heard that feature on radio- Chris Evans` show, I think; it`s called "Top Tenuous"! My mate`s mate`s aunt`s next-door-neighbour`s son-in-law`s chiropidist`s dog groomer once met a bloke who knew a postman who delivered a Christmas card in error to Beckingham Palace.........;-)

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Mad Brewer

Friday, March 15, 2013
I guess you have.

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DocOhNo

Thursday, March 14, 2013
I`ve yet to qualify for third-guessing! And I`ve been here before.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, March 14, 2013
the wonderful thing about these pages is the way we can all second guesseveryone else! I'm in o doubt that Rudd and Steerar excellent keepers and probably could have done the job but the pessimist in me remembers the season that Gunny got injured and we ent down despite having an exellent young keeper (Marshall?).In this caseI hink Hughton's decision was justified.

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DocOhNo

Thursday, March 14, 2013
I,ve always wondered if our manager knew all was not well with Ruddy when Bunn was acquired. Just a thought

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sharky

Thursday, March 14, 2013
I just hope that Bunn doesn't play himself out of the job before Ruddy's return. Bunn has been solid, but he's been tested infrequenty. That being said, he has come up with several fine saves(some from close range) that have helped the team. His rebound control has been fairly good, as well.

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NorthCarolinaCanary

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Declan Rudd seems to be doing well at Preston. Only conceded two goals in last 5 games, with Preston winning three games and drawing two to move away from the relegation zone. Looks like a good loan move for all parties, so well done, Chris.

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Kent Anglian

Thursday, March 14, 2013
In 86 season,after 78 games I'm sure we were in the top 3,and benstead,was doing great! Then brown brought in gunn,?!?! Why? And after that benstead had a mare at arsenal,think we lost 5.1 ,confidence totally gone,and in came gunn... Wasn't a great fan at start,and to be really honest,I would take woods.ruddy,green over gunn..but in that season,he done okay,though used to be a commander more than a woods type acrobat( Luton away 82 or 83 best save I've seen) Also against the ....down there,will never forgive him for that hole in his legs routine at portaloo rd...

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alan clark

Thursday, March 14, 2013
I agree with Sussex in regards to points for the most part. There were a number of goals we conceded where I am convinced Ruddy would have got there. With Bunn just being a touch shorter, it most likely would have been a difference of a couple of points and most definitely around 5 goals. Bunn was so close to saving a few crackers. Unfortunate, but he's done as well as he possibly could have as a No.2 I think.

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danpez

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Whilst not being Rudd's biggest fan , we can't allow either him or Steer to leave for nothing . Would rather not lose Steer , but if it should happen we have to get a decent fee . Too often we allow players to leave for nothing , get them on contracts that would enable the club to benefit whether they stayed or left .

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mjc75

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Bunn has done ok, but would Rudd have done as well?. If we keep Bunn expect Rudd and possibly Steer to move on when contracts up. Or do we expect them to wait as long as Prince charles to get the lead role.

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wivenhoebudgie

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I think Bunn has done a great job regardless of whether he remains #1 or not. When he was signed I do believe it was under the impression that he would be Ruddy's backup so I can't see why that would change. Still, as I said he has done a cracking job filling in at a crucial time. Our goalkeeping and defending this season has been a stark improvement on the previous season's efforts. I believe that the summer will (hopefully) result in a mass clear out of the fringe players (or the ones who really should be - Howson anyone?) and an emphasis on acquiring some real quality in the midfield and attacking positions. However, if this does NOT happen then I really will be concerned about our Premier League status come the end of the 2013-2014 season...

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wisemanthree

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
One for the Brewer. When we first moved to Norfolk in 1972, my mates, mate was Mervyn Cawston, nice bloke but Keelans understudy. Moved to spain in 2004 and found out we lived 5 houses away from Sandy Kennon, and a City reserve keeper John Crieghton...also saw Greens first game at Carra Rud against the lot down the 140......and saw Gunny in goal against Thetford Town.....what next??

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tom the taxi

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I don't think that there's any doubt that Ruddy is the better keeper however Bunn has done a really good job as his replacement.

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DocOhNo

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Spot on, Ellie. Prob not straight away, though.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Hughton was indeed right to get back up and I think Bunn has done as we could have hoped. However, I feel that many of his saves are only required because of his poor positioning and failure to command his box. Thanks to Bunn, but Ruddy is a different class and he should back in the team as soon as he is fit.

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Ellie

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Likewise MB ????=Gunn OTBC

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Singapore Canary

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
As one who scoffed when Bunn came in I eat humble pie as the boys dun good....if players are in the team on merit then he should keep the place even when Ruddy is fit as he, Ruddy, will need to play himself back in and with the games coming up I am much in the if it aint broke don't fix it camp. I understand the comments about England but as a Scot for me the priority is NCFC - please no comments about Scottish keepers! OTBC

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Singapore Canary

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Aaah; Lambert=Ruddy? Gunn=Theoklitos? I wonder who takes the credit\blame for Kevin Keelan.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I`m not too good at arithmetic. How does Bunn=Hughton? Look forward to being educated. Hopefully by somebody who doesn`t just rant "I told you so". Twerp.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Bunn = Hughton was right. Simple as that. Not having senior cover for Ruddy last season shows Lamberts recklessness. It willhas caught him out now

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Steady On

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I was a scoffer, but I scoffed my words long ago. Bunn has done well - but Ruddy has potential star quality. He wasn`t that good when he first joined, though. It`s up to players to progress. Norwich does have a pretty good goalkeeping coach.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Bunns certainly done a great job since he came in and I'm not sure having Ruddy would have changed much - certainly in terms of points gained, it's scoring that's our problem not keeping clean sheets (against average teams anyway). Personally I think Mark has proved himself worthy of a place in the event of Ruddy moving on.

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SussexYellow

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Loads of fans scoffed when Hughton signed 'yet another goalkeeper' in the Summer. I think the man deserves a massive amount of credit for bringing Mark Bunn in. John Ruddy being fit again provides a real dilemma in my opinion. It would be deeply unfair to put John Ruddy back in with Bunn doing so well. Yet, Ruddy really needs it for his England career. One of them needs to move on in the Summer in my opinion as both of them are worthy of regular first team Premier League football. That still leaves us with camp as backup and leaves Rudd and Steer free to continue developing on loan instead of sitting on the bench at Carrow Road.

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LittleYellowBirdie

Wednesday, March 13, 2013