Southampton ace Harrison Reed is a key man for Norwich City
Harrison Reed has caught the eye in pre-season for Norwich City. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Harrison Reed is Norwich City’s ace in the pack for Daniel Farke.
The on-loan Southampton midfielder appears poised for a key role in the German’s Championship battleplan ahead of the new campaign, after an impressive pre-season following his switch from the south-coast.
Reed was again prominent in a deeper-lying central role in a 2-0 friendly win at Charlton during the week, and home fans will get the first chance to see him in this weekend’s final dress rehearsal against top flight Brighton.
The 22-year-old has made 30 appearances for the Premier League Saints, and Farke is backing the youngster to shine in the second tier.
“I think he is very important because he fits really well into my philosophy to control the ball,” he said. “To play nice passes, to build up the game with short and smart passes but also be there with a good attitude and ready to compete in the one-versus-one drills. When you have to fight he is able to win some duels so, yes, I like him very much as a player. For sure, he is still young and didn’t play very often these last few years so he needs some more practice and more games.”
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Yanic Wildschut was equally eye-catching at the Valley with a goal and assist for fellow midfielder Steven Naismith.
“He improves a lot. Yanic has power and quickness,” said Farke. “For sure, he had some really good runs, some really positive actions but I also recognise some mistakes and for him, the same like the whole squad, so we have to work with him. I can say I am content with his working style and hopefully he will go on.”
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Farke’s abundance of midfield options is bad news for versatile teenager Ben Godfrey.
“Probably his best position is in the midfield, because that is a position he has played a lot in his early career,” said Farke. “We have a lot of solutions in that area but some problems in the defence. It is difficult with the centre backs, because Timm Klose is away right now. The same with the right backs, without Ivo Pinto, and James Husband has to improve his endurance. Russell Martin was also missing for a lot of pre-season. We need Ben. He is a great character and we use him in a number of different roles. He played right side and then on the left (at Charlton). We know what we get from him.”
