Wes Hoolahan ‘determined’ to make Premier League return with Norwich City
Wes Hoolahan of Norwich applauds the traveling support at the end of the Sky Bet Championship match at the Ipro Stadium, Derby. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan says he is 'more determined than ever' to return to the Premier League this season.
The Irishman ended an eight-week injury exile when he came off the substitutes bench and set up Lewis Grabban for City's final goal in a 5-0 thrashing of Huddersfield earlier this month.
The 32-year-old was again introduced from the bench in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Derby and is looking to kick on now that he has recovered from an ankle injury picked up in a 1-0 loss at Fulham in October.
'I got a feel for it over the last three years and you get a taste for it, going to these places, Anfield and Old Trafford,' Hoolahan said.
'It's a special experience to play away to United or Liverpool, as a kid you dream of playing in the Premier League in England.
'We've had a few months of Championship football now and I am more determined than ever to get back into the Premier, play in those big games again, against the top teams and the top players.'
The Republic of Ireland international is City's longest-serving current player with 227 appearances to his name, ahead of Russell Martin who has played in 204 games.
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City boss Neil Adams previously told the media his coaches had to prevent an eager Hoolahan from starting training again too early and the playmaker – who extended his contract until the summer of 2016 at the start of this season – admitted he couldn't wait to start playing again.
'I was just desperate to get back,' Hoolahan added, talking to Irish newspaper The Herald. 'I was told it would be 8-10 weeks before I could even train but after five weeks I felt good and felt confident so I wanted to get back into things.
'I was there kicking balls on the training ground even when they didn't want me to, I just kept pushing myself as I wanted to get back out there, I wanted to play, help the team and help the club, but the physois did great work to get me right again.'
