James Vaughan on his return to first team action for Norwich City on Saturday. Photo: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Audio: Mixed emotions for James Vaughan on return to Norwich City duty
Michael Bailey
Sunday, February 19, 2012
6:47 PM
James Vaughan’s first team return provided Saturday’s major bright spot – but even the striker wished it had not been accompanied by Norwich City’s tame FA Cup exit to Leicester City.
Returning striker James Vaughan affords himself a smile at Carrow Road on Saturday. Photo: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesOut for five months with a knee injury, Vaughan’s 62nd-minute introduction was not enough to prevent the Championship outfit enjoying a sweet fifth round win at Carrow Road thanks to David Nugent’s winner nine minutes later.
A £1.5m summer signing from Everton, Vaughan missed the opening month of the campaign with a pre-season knock before picking up a second knee injury in the home win over September at the end of September.
But the forward – who endured injury woes at Goodison Park – was clearly glad to be back up and running at the weekend, albeit in a rare misfiring performance for City.
“Obviously on a personal point it was good to be back, but unfortunately today we were all after the same target and that’s to get through to the next round and it didn’t happen, so I’m gutted like everyone else in the team,” said Vaughan.
“It’s been probably one of the toughest times in my career. I mean, being out and coming in and watching the lads train every day, never mind play, was very tough.
“I had a full season last year injury-free (on loan) at Crystal Palace, barely missed a day’s training if any, so I thought it was all behind me.
“You have got to work hard and the goal is to be out there back on the pitch with your team-mates. Obviously today it came – but I would have preferred for it to have been under better circumstances.
“But I’ve been working hard for a good few weeks in training now and thankfully I got on the pitch. Reserve team football and first team football are completely different ball games but hopefully with a few more minutes on the pitch I can start showing what I can do.
“I will get sharper and sharper hopefully with a few more games. There are a good few games left in the season and I just want to help the team out as much as I can.
“Everyone knows our main goal is to secure our Premier League status. Once we have done that I’m sure we will be looking to push on at another goal. For me it’s now a case of kicking on and helping the team get to the next level.
“The coaching staff and the fans, everyone around the place has shown me a lot of support and now I just want to work as hard as I can to repay that support they have shown me.”
Vaughan denied the Canaries underestimated Leicester at the weekend or that they unduly missed the presence of captain Grant Holt – but the striker admitted he was none the wiser over the reasons for City’s off day.
“I honestly can’t say why – we’ve set a very high standard for ourselves this year and fortunately today we weren’t able to reach those standards, so we’ve just got to dust ourselves down and go again next week really,” said Vaughan.
“Credit has got to go to Leicester. They fully took advantage of us not being at the high standard we should be at today, so you’ve got to take your hat off to them, but we all know we could have done better and we feel it’s a missed opportunity.
“We couldn’t play like that in the Premier League. Every week we go out there to reach those standards we’ve set. Today wasn’t one of those days but we have got another massive game coming up next week and we’ll go again and give it our all then.
“Obviously Holty is a massive player for us, but every one of us has confidence in every one of the players in the dressing room alongside us, so I don’t think we can blame it on anybody not playing,” said Vaughan. “We were all confident going into the game. It just didn’t happen for us. It is one of those days.
“You mention the likes of Anthony Pilkington and Elliott Bennett. They have been fantastic this season, so miscontrolling the odd ball – people aren’t going to hold that against them. We know we can play better and we will do everything we can to put it right this week.”
The City striker understood and empathised with the boos of the home crowd at the final whistle.
“No one is more upset about it than us in the dressing room,” he added. “Those boos are there because we have set a high standard for ourselves and when we don’t reach that, that’s what we expect. It’s one of those things really.”
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15 comments
This all seems a bit harsh on Morison, our 2nd highest goalscorer this season. All players have a dip in form in the season. Bet you weren't criticising him when he was scoring every other week were you? Hopefully he'll be rejuvenated by a bit of time on the bench, and be hungry to get back in ifwhen Vaughan takes his place.
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MancCanary
Monday, February 20, 2012
I think Morison is just lacking confidence at the moment, I still think he is an asset to us and hopefully a bit of competition for a start will get him motivated again.
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ImDrunky
Monday, February 20, 2012
Lambert knows the situation......for Hollahan, read Howson, for Barnett read Bennett, as I've never rated Morrison, come the summer, read Rhodes for Morrison
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Algarve Canary
Monday, February 20, 2012
Morison's body language has suggested for a number of matches that he cannot be bothered. He makes no effort to get balls that come within his reach and, in my opinion, should not even be on the bench. It struck me that the pre-match team talk was along the lines of, "Have a bit of a go, but don't worry if we don't get a result because next week's match is more iportant..." And the players took 'have a bit of a go' as 'we will have a relaxing afternoon.'
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Mel Lacey
Monday, February 20, 2012
I was mistaken, it`s more an anti-Wes thing!
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Mad Brewer
Monday, February 20, 2012
everytime i see little hoolahan play,with his flat footed runs and little steps,he is also slow,does not seem to be able to kick a ball more than 25 yards, everyone brushes him off ball,he reminds me of a sunday league player,
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jmm
Sunday, February 19, 2012
barnett is off in summer,lambert rates him 4th choice, and ryan bennet coming next week,so barnett will be sold in summer, morison is only any good if you cross for him to head at goal,he doesnt have it in him to take players on and drill one in bottom corner,its up to midfielders to play to his strengths, think his confidence is low, maybe just a case of he knows he will always be in grant holts shadow, bit like torres and drogba situation at chelsea
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jmm
Sunday, February 19, 2012
There weren't any brilliant displays but we suffered big time down the spine of the side, Barnett, Hooligan & Morison were all poor. Morison just didnt look interested at all, like a kid sulking over being dropped from previous games!!
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kevin
Sunday, February 19, 2012
not worried about morisons dip in form,why do we keep playing useless hoolahan,all he does is make 10 yard passes ,sideways, put him on bosman list . our worst player by a mile,
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jmm
Sunday, February 19, 2012
morison is only good when we get service into him to head at goal,he was never a skillfull player that would go past 2 players and drill it in bottom corner,he is a good squad player to have, vaughan will be good if he can stay fit,serious injurys seem to follow him around, wish lambert would get rid of hoolahan,complete waste of space and wage
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jmm
Sunday, February 19, 2012
morrison is as good as any striker at the club.end of!
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harry mcardle
Sunday, February 19, 2012
MB - Morison hasn't really delivered what he's capable of the last couple of games and it could just be he's hit a lean spell. I'm confident he'll be back to his former self before the end of the season.
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Mr Ed
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Everybody seems anti-Moro just now. Why is this?
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Mad Brewer
Sunday, February 19, 2012
I saw real potential, can't wait for him to take Morison's place.
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Lobbo
Sunday, February 19, 2012
We fans all hope you can deliver, James. Both for us and yourself.
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Mad Brewer
Sunday, February 19, 2012