Norwich City chief Alex Neil wants to close the book on Wembley promotion triumph
Russell Martin lifts the Championship play-off final trophy at Wembley that secured Premier League football. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich boss Alex Neil has drawn a line under City's wonderful Wembley triumph as he zones in on the daunting Premier League challenge.
The Canaries' chief now wants his squad to look forward, after returning to pre-season action at Gorleston less than seven weeks on from that memorable Championship promotion play-off win against Middlesbrough.
More than 40,000 travelling supporters savoured that special occasion but Neil is urging those inside and outside the club to focus on the huge task ahead.
'I don't think I need to sit down with the players and say, 'Forget about Wembley and promotion.' because that is always going to be in the past. What happened at Gorleston is in the past, we move onto the next one,' he said. 'That is the way we always work, since I have been here certainly. Once the game is finished, win, lose or draw it is about the next game.
'You need to enjoy it on a personal level but for me in the summer when I went away it was about looking to kick on now because regardless of what I managed to help do here last year or what the team did last year if we don't do well this season then it won't matter.'
City step up their preparations on Tuesday at non league Hitchin and Neil could draft some of his international contingent back into the fold after the likes of Wes Hoolahan and Russell Martin missed the Emerald Park opener.
'We have seven or eight guys who are doing a different programme, they are just catching up with fitness and when they are ready we'll involve them,' said Neil.
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