Three players to watch vs Peterborough

Following the postponement of Tuesday night’s friendly at Lowestoft, Norwich City’s pre-season preparations continue on Saturday with a trip to Peterborough United. City’s one completed pre-season friendly, last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Walsall, was played behind closed doors and thus Saturday’s game gives City fans the first opportunity of the season to cast judgement over their side. Despite only making one new addition, Sergi Canos, there is likely to be a few interesting faces on show - with the likes of Jacob and Josh Murphy, James Maddison, Harry Toffolo, Carlton Morris and Ricky van Wolfswinkel all having returned from their loan spells and ready to try and stake their claim for a place in City’s first-team squad next season. Here are three players I would like to see get significant game-time on Saturday:

Carlton Morris

2013 FA Youth Cup star Carlton Morris is back at the club and it will be interesting to see if he can make his mark throughout pre-season. During the final of the aforementioned cup winning campaign, Clarke Carlisle described Morris as a “million pound 18-year-old” and, with his power and strength, he certainly seemed to show that he had the credentials to potentially make it at the club. A couple of fruitless lower league loan spells at Oxford United and York City were followed by a season-long spell in the SPL at Hamilton last season. 7 goals in 30 appearances is not a return that will overly excite Alex Neil or the Norwich fanbase, but Accies fans would tell you that he was quietly impressive. Much like Jamar Loza and other ‘bright’ young striking talents that have fallen before him, I am not convinced that Morris will be able to forge a career at City. This being said, he is still only 20-years-old. There is no harm in giving him a chance to impress during this pre-season campaign - a few goals and a few good performances and who knows, we may just have a useful alternative option to complement our lacking striking books.

Sergi Canos

Any new signing comes with a huge amount of excitement for supporters. When the signing happens to be 19-years-old, Spanish and extremely highly-rated, this excitement is increased ten-fold. Most City supporters will know very little about young Canos but reports from Liverpool fans and Brentford fans alike have left us desperate to see him in action. Norwich fans know better than any other that players that come with high praise do not necessarily deliver, however, and thus the majority of us will be reserving our judgement until Canos steps out and performs to his supposed abilities in a City shirt. Saturday’s friendly provides the first opportunity for the ex-Barca youth star to show to us all what we can look forward to seeing displayed on the Carrow Road pitch during this coming season, and beyond.

James Maddison

Similarly to Canos, Maddison also joins City with rave reviews from Coventry fans. Having signed in January, the anticipation to see the youngster in a Norwich shirt arguably surpasses that of the desire to see Canos, and thus all City supporters will be hoping that Saturday brings the long-awaited chance to see the 19-year-old in action. I think it is largely hoped that, despite his young age, Maddison will adapt quickly to Championship football and play quite a prominent first-team role this season - eventually developing into Wes Hoolahan’s successor. If this is to be the case, then a successful pre-season under his belt is essential - hopefully beginning at Peterborough on Saturday.