Ahead of Sunday’s trip to the north-east, Norwich manager Alex Neil sat down to face the media to talk about this weekends match with strugglers Newcastle.
Neil was asked about Norwich’s previous match where they lost 2-1 to Leicester, and whether that could affect Sunday’s match:
I don’t think the previous game have any bearing on the next game, whether we’ve played well or whether we’ve not played well. The next you take in isolation.
Neil has had to work with a smaller squad this last week as most of City’s players were out on international duty but was happy how he had an extra day to work with those players:
A Sunday match is better than a Saturday for us because it allows us to get all those players back in. It’s not ideal though, because a lot of the lads have been away for a lot of the time.
The City boss was asked about their opponents, Newcastle, and if their winless run could impact the match:
I think it probably applies more pressure to them rather than anything else, having not won and certainly being at home as well. There will be a lot of pressure from their fans for them to go and win the game
Neil also gave a word about Newcastle manager Steve McClaren, who he faced last season, and also how he feels the game will pan out:
They’ll be very similar to Derby when Steve was there. They’re quite expansive when they’ve got the ball, and it’s going to be an open match I think. Hopefully we can come out on top.
West Ham loanee Matt Jarvis also faced the media ahead of the match. He was asked about the Leicester loss and how they have been preparing for Sunday’s game:
As a group it wasn’t nice to lose before the international break as you have that feeling for two weeks. We’ve had time to reflect on Leicester and want to put things right now.
He was also asked about how he thinks Newcastle will approach the game:
They will be wanting to get the win at home and their fans will be expectant. However, we want to keep our away record going and have shown in games how well we can play.
Alex Neil confirmed in the press conference that Youssof Mulumbu is back in full training but will miss Sunday’s fixture. Neil did confirm that there are no new injury concerns over the international break.
