Marc Tierney, having shaken off a troublesome groin injury, is hoping a good pre-season will have him in perfect shape to stake his claim for a starting place under new boss Chris Hughton.

Norwich City’s Marc Tierney eager to make a return

Thursday, July 19, 2012
9:41 AM

Full-back Marc Tierney has declared himself 100pc fit for the new season – seven months after his last first team appearance for Norwich City.

Tierney last played for the Canaries in the 2-2 Premier League draw at Wolves, five days before Christmas, after which he suffered a groin injury in training.

He made a brief comeback, playing 70 minutes in a reserve game against Chelsea in January, and was on the bench for the FA Cup fourth round tie at West Bromwich Albion.

But the injury persisted and meant he was sidelined for the rest of the campaign and had surgery in April.

Now, however, the 26-year-old is impatient to get back into action, with City’s first pre-season game under new boss Chris Hughton just 48 hours away.

“I’m 100pc fit, I can’t wait,” said Tierney. “I did a bit extra with Neal (Reynolds) and all the other physios over the summer. I really can’t wait for the first game, to put my hand up and say I’m ready for first team action again.”

Tierney, speaking from the Canaries’ training camp in Austria ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Hertha Berlin, said his long spell on the sidelines had been a frustrating one after he was ever-present for the first 17 Premier League games.

“I tore an abductor muscle. It took longer to find it than it did to actually fix the problem,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s fine and I’ve been raring to go for a while now, so I’ve been doing a bit over the summer and am just looking to get back into training with the lads and it feels brilliant.

“It was more disappointing not to be able to find the actual problem, to keep breaking down because you keep coming back, trying to do your best to get back in the side.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t really find the problem until a couple of months later, by which point the season had passed but I enjoyed starting every one of those 17 games last season and I want to pick up where I left off this season.”

The departure of Adam Drury to Leeds and the return of Kyle Naughton to Tottenham after his season-long loan potentially opens the way for Tierney to reclaim the left-back spot as Hughton runs the rule over the squad he has inherited from Paul Lambert.

“It’s been fantastic. The lads are all working really hard. We’re doing three or four sessions a day,” said Tierney.

“We all worked really hard the week prior to it and we’ve gone straight into it, all guns blazing, and everyone’s enjoying it.

“We’ve done the bike ride at about half past six, seven in the morning. It can get on a few lads’ nerves but everyone has taken it in their stride.

“Everyone knows we have to get fit, it’s a really big season.

“Normally there would be a few grumbles but this season everyone’s just getting on with it, in the ice baths, back upstairs, back downstairs for a run or to play football. It’s all about getting fit. We know that and we’re ready to work and learn off the new manager and his staff, and that’s what we’re doing.

“We’ve got a big squad and everyone wants to impress the new manager.”

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16 comments

el dingo, what a match! 2 CBs off crocked (Zak & Dani?), so Kafu & Grasshopper Naughton moved to CB, Benno the Smaller to RB and we kept one of the only 3 clean sheets of the season versus Bolton. That must tell us something about Bolton`s attack! Seriously, how calmly R. Martin marshalled this makeshift back 4. And wasn`t he just a Sub that day? Newcastle, put in the same position, would have whinged and let in 4 goals........ I so wish we could have Kyle back, if only for a further season on loan. Please Mr. Villas-Boas, pretty please. ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 20, 2012
yes its good marc tierney is back. when i read story saw 'most read ' bits and a ref to a strihavka goal caught my eye and i looked,!!! its from 20078, never let anyone tell you we dont get the latest news on city !

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wivenhoebudgie

Friday, July 20, 2012
Pleased to know that Mark Tear knee is fit and well again, and has got over his grain tribble Havig cornflakes for breakfast and cuttin down on the oats makes all the difference, and often helps with speakin english. I am of the opinion that much of quality starts from that left back position, and his positive attitude was missed in the litter half of last season.

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Stew Pydsodd

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Good to see him back. Don Simon can cover, but... a second dedicated LB would do no harm. We've always got Benno for emergency right back. too! But no Naughton for CH, sob. OTBC.

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el dingo

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Peter W, I wonder if the King of Spain will cover @ LB? He`s proved to be very capable of it. Then we have Whittaker (hopefully) who is versatile, or even Bradley Johnson for like reason. Overall, things look not too bad, really. As long as they stay fit! OTBC

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Spot on Jo`burg. With Naughton, R. Martin and Tierney we had full backs that were "wing-backs". I remember the Champ game v Middlesbro` @ Carra Rud and being impressed by how much attacking was done by Russ and, indeed, by Steven Smith who, alas, soon got homesick for Scotland and went to..... Preston. Tierney has a bit more than Smith & Ads combined; he`s quite an intimidating character with an attacking flair. Good news all round - again! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 19, 2012
The other real positive for me about MT being back in the team is how keen he was to get forward - in those early games he delivered as many crosses in as the wide players. Adam Drury never let us down and was a great deputy defensively, but I think Tierney adds another dimension going forward. Good to see him back, as Brew says

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Johannesburg Chris

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Mad Brewer - There certainly were a few rumours flying about! Lets hope he does a decent job this season as always!

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Speedy

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tierney had a good season up to the unfortunate injury,although Theo Walcott gave him a bit of the runaround in the home match with the Arsenal-as well as a few other left backs it must be said.Who would cover MT though in the squad?I agree Chris Hughton seems to have more diplomacy than the previous Scottish manager-forgot his name- who showed his capacity for spontaneous combustion when he got "riled"unlike any contributors to these columns it has to be said.

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Peter Watson

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Dunno about that, Sid. What about Ryan Bennett? Maybe Whittaker will have to wait for his chance if R. Martin is preferred at RB? We`ll soon find out. Things don`t look so bad with Tierney back in the mix, do they? OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 19, 2012
good to hear he is raring to go...so back 4 looks like being R.Martin, D. Ayala, S.Whittaker and mad marc. unless we get Curtis Davies in...

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CanarySid

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Nothing sinister, Speedy. Just that at one time the rumour mill was grinding out stuff about his being on the way out and injury had nowt to do with his absence, blah blah. Now we see a positive statement from the man himself to clarify (demist) the matter. Perhaps "Glasgonost" is giving way to Glasnost under the new regime? I also sometimes wonder whether the Holty issue would have been resolved under Gorbalschev. I`m glad Mad Marc is back. Good player. ;-) OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 19, 2012
How do you mean mist has cleared Mad Brewer?

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Speedy

Thursday, July 19, 2012
At last, the mist surrounding Mad Marc has cleared. As SussexYellow points out, it`s sometimes a good idea to count your blessings. When "Real-Worlders" get nasty injuries etc, we are left to queue @ the nearest NHS Depot for treatment (unless blessed with private health insurance). I had that when I had a proper job, but never needed it. Now I need it, I aint got it! :-(

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Welcome back indeed, and good luck. I'm glad to know you are all getting on with the tough training, it must be so hard having to do that for only a few thousand pounds every week you poor dears. Not like all those people that have an easy life in the real world, eh?

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SussexYellow

Thursday, July 19, 2012
Welcome back MT. It will be good to see you playing again

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CovCanary

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Manchester City 2, Norwich City 3

A magnificent solo goal by midfielder Jonny Howson clinched a notable victory for Norwich City as they wrapped up their season by beating Premier League runners-up Manchester City on their own ground.

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