Tottenham ace Oliver Skipp already knows he has made the right move to link up with Norwich City this season.
The 19-year-old defensive midfielder was influential in Wednesday’s 2-0 pre-season friendly win against Dynamo Dresden, as he looks to put down a marker following his season long loan switch.
Skipp’s combative streak earned him a yellow card 10 minutes into City’s latest German tour contest.But teenager knows it is that aggressive edge that attracted the Canaries.
“I’ve really enjoyed being around the boys. It is a great group. You hear things before you join and it has proven to be true after spending just two weeks here,” he said. “You can tell there are good players, a big squad, and everyone is pushing each other on. Even in training you can’t afford to have a bad performance.
“You want to get about the pitch and make tackles and show what you can do.
“I wouldn’t want to get booked in a friendly and I had to be careful from then on not to get sent off. I was a little bit concerned for the rest of the first half.
“We know it might not be the level of the Championship yet but it is a positive to keep three clean sheets in a row. It gives us confidence and a sense we are building something.
“The boss has really drilled that into us we have to be solid collectively. It is something we are looking to achieve as a group. To press at the right time and press higher.”
City head coach Daniel Farke played a key role in convincing Skipp to make the move from Spurs this summer.
“Talking to the boss and seeing the style of play were important. I think Tottenham played them three or four times last season so I really got to know what the club was about and I felt this would be a perfect place to get some game time,” he said. “The boss here is big on the number six playing out and trying to get our attacking players on the ball; to feed them in between the lines.
“In this team you get a lot of the ball.
“At the Spurs academy they drill that into you so I believe I can help. I haven’t played the games I wanted to in previous seasons and I need to kick on. Norwich want to keep the ball but there is another side to the game as well.
“We have to be keeping clean sheets, and that is as important as scoring goals.”
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