After a relatively brief lull in transfer activity, Paul Lambert has continued Norwich City’s summer recruitment by snapping up full-back Kyle Naughton from Tottenham on a season long loan.
Aside from one brief sub appearance, Naughton is an untested quantity in the top-flight and with the likes of Kyle Walker, Vedran Corluka, Younes Kaboul and Alan Hutton ahead of him in the queue for a starting place at right-back under Harry Redknapp, the player has boosted his chances of gaining Premier League experience considerably with the switch to Carrow Road. His new manager is certainly convinced the Canaries have picked up the right man for the job…
“We’re delighted to have secured Kyle’s service for the season. He’s a quality player who will come in and give the current group a hand as well as providing more healthy competition for places.
He’s a pacy player and he’s also young and hungry to continue developing his career and we’re obviously pleased he’s got the chance now to do that with us here at Norwich City”
Lambert continued to eschew his views and all but confirmed that was the end of trading for him and Norwich as they look to assemble a settled squad well before the season begins…
“We said we were looking for six or seven lads to come in and lend a hand in various positions and it’s pleasing we’ve now managed to do so. Kyle will come in and join his new team-mates on Monday and the whole group can then work together on continuing our pre-season preparations.”
The Statistics
A product of the Sheffield United youth academy, Naughton was farmed out to Scottish side Gretna in the second half of the 2007/08 season in order to gain first-team experience, though his performances were unable to prevent the troubled club’s relegation from the Scottish Premier League.
The Blades decided to retain his services the following season and, after a couple of sub appearances early on, Naughton became first-choice right-back for the club. Such was the calibre of his displays, Naughton was not only named ‘Young Player of the Year’ by his own supporters but was also selected for the 2008/09 “Championship Team of the Season”.
This form, as well as a late burst of appearances by his team-mate Kyle Walker, caught the attention of the Spurs hierarchy and the pair were signed in a deal thought to be worth £9m. As mentioned earlier, Naughton made one late substitute’s appearance in August of the following season but, having failed to make a first-team breakthrough, joined Middlesbrough on loan for the remainder of the season as the winter transfer window drew to a close. He was in the first team for the duration his time in the North-East and made 15 appearances in total for the club.
Last season he was shipped out on loan again, this time to Leicester. Joining up in October for what was an initial 3 month spell, the player decided to stay on loan in the Midlands for the remainder of the season, making 34 starts and scoring 5 goals in his time at the Walkers Stadium. For the second campaign on the trot he was named in the “Championship Team of the Season”.
The Prospects
Naughton will have stiff competition on his hands to nail down the right-back berth at Norwich- the player currently filling said spot, vice-captain Russell Martin, played every minute of the Canaries promotion campaign last season. He is, however, just as capable playing on the opposite flank and a slot at left-back looks more likely, though fellow loanee Ritchie da Laet’s versatility means he is just as comfortable there as he is at centre-half. Following our Pre-Season Form Guide as the team kick on should give more indication as to where Lambert’s intentions lie.
Naughton is a dynamic full-back and his attacking is as strong as his defensive duties – as evidenced by the five goals he notched on loan at Leicester last season. He doesn’t hold the same burst of pace that his team-mate Kyle Walker does but can be relied upon to move forward with enterprise. Not seen to endlessly provide crosses and assists from the bye-lines, it is his own keen eye for goal which makes him stand out as an offensive option on the flanks.
At present, Naughton is yet to appear on the FPL players listings but with all but one Canaries defender priced at 4.0, he should come in around the same mark. As highlighted by our end of season report, Naughton joins a club that didn’t pick up too many clean sheets in the Championship – the step up to the Premier League seems likely to only make matters worse. Given that the bottom of the defensive market is bereft of many stand out options; Naughton, provided he figures, will likely be as good an option as any down there – just don’t expect any miracles.
