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‘It’s time for a goal now!’ - Rupp keen to improve for City after wasted chances
Lukas Rupp in training at Colney ahead of Norwich City's home clash with Leicester Picture: Tony Thrussell/Archant - Credit: Tony Thrussell
Norwich City new boy Lukas Rupp admits he should already have opened his goal-scoring account in the Premier League – and is determined to show he can be ruthless in front of goal.
The 29-year-old was signed from German top-flight side Hoffenheim for an initial fee reportedly worth around £500,000 and has started five of City's six games since his January arrival.
The versatile midfielder has been starting on the right side of midfield and has proved a solid addition so far, but has looked hesitant in front of goal - wasting openings in the recent defeats to Tottenham, Liverpool and Wolves, although his effort did lead to Josip Drmic's goal at Burnley in the FA Cup.
"I have more qualities," the German assured Canaries fans ahead of Friday night's home clash with Leicester. "I think it's time for a goal now!
"We need the points and I think every goal is important for us.
"It's a home game on Friday and we want to show a reaction for our fans."
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That reaction is very much needed after a disappointing team display during Sunday's 3-0 loss at high-flying Wolves, which kept Daniel Farke's team bottom and seven points from safety with 11 games remaining.
"Of course it was not enough for the Premier League, to stay in this league," Rupp admitted. "We know this and we have the chance on Friday to do better.
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"We're looking forward to the game and we want to leave the Wolves game behind us.
"It was not our day. In every part they were better than us and you have no chance against such a team."
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The former Stuttgart and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder missed the majority of last season because of a serious knee injury, making just four starts for Hoffenheim during the first half of this campaign as he recovered full fitness before moving to England.
Rupp signed a contract until 2022 with City and is focused on using his Bundesliga experience to help Farke's side now that he's fully fit - with 14 goals to his name from 137 matches in the German top tier.
"It's the first time I have played five games in a row since before I was injured for a long time," he explained.
"In Germany I played sometimes and sometimes not. It's not easy to come in to your rhythm and now I think I am fit, I have the power and I have to be better in the final third - and to score."
