The Blackburn Rovers gang is back together and Ben Marshall is already excited about what it can achieve at Norwich City.
The gang is back together and Ben Marshall is already excited about what it can achieve at Norwich City.
For three years Blackburn Rovers could call on the services of Marshall, Grant Hanley and Jordan Rhodes as they competed in the second tier. Now the trio will do likewise for the Canaries – hoping to make a big Championship impression.
'The Rovers Boys, they call us!' smiled Marshall. 'We're probably talking two or three years ago now that we were all together and it's funny how we've all ended up back together now.
'They've both pushed on and I just can't wait to see them both in action, if I'm honest.
'The squad here has got unbelievable talent and then obviously they've added to that in the summer.
'The likes of Jordan, who has shown over the years what he can do and with Grant coming in last season. Getting to play with them is good for me and I've played with them before.
'The rest of the team is brilliant so I'm really excited to see what the outcome will be this season, because the lads have been brilliant in pre-season, we've worked our socks off and hopefully it can pay off in the season.'
That season seems likely to involve Marshall deployed as a right-back – perhaps a move not as surprising to the man himself as some supporters.
'We had a chat about it and it's not new to me,' said the 27-year-old, speaking as Norfolk brewery Woodforde's was unveiled as the new sponsor of the Barclay Stand. 'I played a full season for Blackburn there and I really enjoy it. I feel comfortable.
'But it's one of those where I can also play on the wing and a few other positions so wherever the manager wants me to play, as long as I'm on the football field I'm happy.'
That happy feeling will ramp up this weekend when the competitive action really begins, with City's trip to Birmingham. No doubt it's felt like a long time coming.
'You work hard and it comes to the point in training where you really have to dig in, and this is what it's for – to be able to be 100pc for the first game of the season to give everything you can,' Marshall added.
'It's been a sharp week in training. No one knows what's going to happen for Saturday. There's a big squad and everyone still wants to be in that starting XI, so it's good for us and for the competition in the squad.
'Hopefully everyone gets what they want and we can kick on.'
• For the latest Norwich City news and opinion follow Michael Bailey on the following channels…
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