Video
Boro old boy Yanic Wildschut is enjoying a new lease of life at Norwich City
Yanic Wildschut returns to one of his former clubs tonight when City travel to Middlesbrough. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Yanic Wildschut says he is playing ‘with a smile’ on his face again after a difficult start to his Norwich City career.
Wildschut moved to Carrow Road from Wigan in January for around £4m, having had a spell with tonight’s opponents Middlesbrough – which included scoring in a 4-0 victory over the Canaries in November, 2014.
The 25-year-old struggled last season, but has shown a noticeable improvement, and believes the pressure of his transfer fee was weighing heavily.
“When a new manager comes in, the saying is that everyone starts at zero – but I always knew this season at Norwich I’d be starting at a disadvantage,” he told The Gazette. “I signed in January for a lot of money so was maybe under a bit more pressure to show what I was about.
“But I played well in pre-season and proved that I can be a part of this squad. I’m playing with a smile on my face.
You may also want to watch:
“I perhaps underestimated the pressure of coming to a club with a transfer fee, the pressure of them wanting to go straight back up. Once we couldn’t get in the play-offs we started to play without any pressure, beating teams last season.
“This season, now I feel better, fitter and stronger. I think moving to Norwich was the first time I’d moved for a transfer fee, so maybe that did bring some extra pressure. I don’t think it was something you thought about when you were playing or in training, but perhaps subconsciously when you’re not playing. You can maybe think ‘they’ve spent all this money on me, why aren’t I playing’ or ‘I need to show more’.
Most Read
- 1 Norwich City transfer rumours: Buendia 'talks' over summer Arsenal move
- 2 PRESSER LIVE: Barnsley v Norwich City - McLean tests positive for Covid-19
- 3 Norwich City transfer rumours: Canaries interested in Luton midfielder
- 4 Soto's loan at Telstar ends as City close on work permit for USA striker
- 5 'I didn't know if I'd make it' - City academy product ends over 1,000 days of injury woe
- 6 Dowell hoping to make more happy FA Cup memories with Canaries
- 7 'Best team in the division' - Bristol boss hails City's stylish success
- 8 Patience a virtue for City striker after injury had threatened his Premier League pursuit
- 9 Iwan Roberts: Hugill showed he truly belongs at Norwich City
- 10 Farke's words of advice for Soto
“But I just think I was playing in a team that was struggling. I don’t think I played as well as I can and I blame myself for that.
“But this season it’s different, I’m enjoying my football again and things are going well.”