Chris Hughton - Norwich City’s FA Youth Cup story can inspire the club’s senior stars
Norwich City players celebrate one of hat-trick hero Carlton Morris' goals in the 4-2 win at Everton. City face a semi-final first leg trip to Nottingham tonight. Picture: Andrew Teebay - Credit: Archant
Chris Hughton wants his Premier League stars to reap the fringe benefits from the Canaries' FA Youth Cup success.
The Norwich boss was at the City Ground on Wednesday evening to watch Neil Adams' youngsters clinch a televised 1-0 semi-final, first leg win against Nottingham Forest. Hughton is predicting a special Carrow Road night for next week's home return and he admits the club's impressive run to the last four is a major boost for everyone.
'It was a nice feeling coming to the training ground on Thursday. I have to say,' said Hughton. 'We were there as a staff at Forest and our club captain, Grant (Holt) was there as well.
'I'm not sure how many of the other lads watched it on television, but I would expect quite a few if not all of the first team players to be there next Tuesday.
'It was great to see these young lads perform so well. To get to the final would be a big achievement and that creates a feelgood factor for the club.
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'Teams are judged on achievements and for us to get to this stage with a second leg at Carrow Road next Tuesday we are quite sure we will get a big support. It is massive for the club.'
Hughton warns City's exciting young crop have plenty of hard work ahead to reach their full potential.
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'In terms of their development it helps those players massively to do so well in such a big competition,' he said. 'We have worked very hard over recent years on the academy and there is a lot more going on now at the training ground after achieving category one status. The timing of this could not be any better.
'There will always be good years when you have quite a few players come through and have an opportunity to further themselves in the development group and then for us to see enough to feel they can progress again and be on the fringes of the first team.
'That is the goal for every young player we take on, 'Can they play in our first team?'
'We know ultimately a large majority won't. It is not just about the numbers but that star quality. It is a very difficult task these days to be a Premier League footballer. It takes a lot of ambition and determination and work on the training field, allied to ability. Our academy has to provide the right ethics and the right philosophy to groom these players.'
• Norwich City season ticket holders, current super members and 2013/14 priority members are entitled to free entry to next Tuesday's semi-final, second leg tie at Carrow Road, but need to claim a ticket in advance from the ticket office before 5pm today.
Tickets for non-season ticket holders and non super and priority members will cost £2 per person and are available through the club's usual ticket outlets.
