Friendlies Round-Up – Friday

With plenty of clubs set to take part in friendlies over the next few days, Norwich were the only club on our radars last night. Gary Hooper bagged a brace as the Canaries snatched a draw against Braga, while elsewhere, Thomas Vermaelen is ruled out for the start of the season, Newcastle take a step closer to signing Bafetimbi Gomis and West Brom add to their defensive ranks with the capture of Uruguayan centre-half Diego Lugano.

Braga 2 Norwich 2
Chris Hughton rolled out a 4-4-1-1 formation for the Canaries’ trip to Portugal. Michael Turner returned to action for the first time this summer after a minor operation, while Ryan Bennett was named as part of a back-four which also saw new boy Martin Olsson feature at left-back. Robert Snodgrass started on the right as Nathan Redmond dropped to the bench for the first time in five matches, while Leroy Fer and Gary Hooper were also given the nod, with Wes Hoolahan tucking in behind the former Celtic man. Hooper seems to have wasted little time in carrying over his form at previous club Celtic – the new signing grabbed both the visitors’ goals before being subbed off as one of six second-half changes by Hughton. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel climbed off the bench at the break and partnered Hooper in a front two before the latter made way for Jacob Butterfield.

Prior to the game, Hughton revealed his delight after Turner had taken part in an open training session at Carrow Road the previous day. The Norwich boss also courted caution when discussing Seb Bassong, who has yet to feature this summer after he, too, underwent surgery:

“That’s probably the most pleasing one (Turner’s comeback). Michael has missed the majority of the pre-season, he’s been back in training now for over a week so it’s really pleasing to see him back…He’s (Bassong) had a very minor operation in the summer, which has set back his pre-season. We’re hoping he’s going to be training next week and for us of course it’s always that race to try and get him fit for that first game of the season. What is more important is that he makes sure he does his rehab in the right way because it’s very much about the whole season and not just one or two games.”

Hughton also made assurances over John Ruddy’s game time in the season ahead. The Norwich boss started Mark Bunn between the sticks last night but confirmed Ruddy will be his main stopper next time out:

““Yes, he (Ruddy) will be my number one. He is a quality goalkeeper. Last season was disappointing for him with injury but in Bunny we had someone who came in and did very well. That is another area you need competition, but John is a very good goalkeeper. The England is down to one person and all the players can do is perform well on a consistent basis to ask questions. I would expect any English player operating in the Premier League on a consistent basis to be knocking on the door.”

In Other News
Arsene Wenger rolled out a team news update ahead of Arsenal’s Emirates Cup match with Napoli later today. The Gunners boss revealed Santi Cazorla will feature for the first time this summer after an extended rest due to Confederations Cup duties with Spain, while Wojciech Szczesny is fully fit after a recent back problem prevented him from playing in each of the last couple of friendlies. The Gunners boss also spoke on the fitness of a couple of defenders, with only a fortnight now until the new season kicks off:

“Vermaelen is out for six more weeks [at least before returning to training] and Monreal will start [light] training on Monday. Vermaelen is developing normally but he has a stress fracture in his back which takes time.”

While Monreal’s potential return is likely to deter many from investing in Kieran Gibbs, with the duo vying for the left-back berth, Vermaelen’s absence is set to afford Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker the chance to continue the central defensive partnership established towards the end of the previous campaign. Given that Arsenal face only one of last term’s top six in the opening nine Gameweeks, the schedule affords them plenty opportunity to rack up the defensive returns and replicate the resilience that saw them concede just 37 times in 2012/13, the second most impressive backline in the Premier League.

Uruguayan centre-half Diego Lugano took to twitter last night to announce he has signed for West Brom. The 32-year-old rolls up to the Hawthorns on a two-year deal and follows fellow free transfer Nicolas Anelka to the club as Steve Clarke continues to be somewhat frugal with his summer spending. Given that Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson both missed just two games apiece over the course of the previous campaign, Lugano’s game time seems far from assured, despite his wealth of experience – we’ll have more on the new Hawthorns recruit in an upcoming Scout Report over the next day or two.

Reports indicate Newcastle are closing in on the signing of Bafetimbi Gomis after agreeing a fee with Lyon for the forward’s services. The French club’s president Jean Michel Aulas revealed:

“We have accepted the proposal of Newcastle, which is eight million euros (£7million), plus two million bonus. The agreement is now linked to the acceptance of agents’ fees. I understand that the problem is in the amount and manner of payment of commissions.”

Yet to make a single acquisition since the appointment of Joe Kinnear, the Magpies have so far been thwarted in their bid to bolster a faltering attack that scored just 45 times in 2012/13. They are believed to have pulled out of a bid for Darren Bent – leaving Fulham as favourites for the Villa man’s signature – but Alan Pardew is still keen on QPR’s Loic Remy, with a season-long loan deal mooted. With Papiss Cisse back in contention after resolving his dispute with the club, and Hatem Ben Arfa a viable option on the right of a front three, it remains to be seen just what system Pardew has in mind if he manages to snap up both Gomis and Remy before the transfer window closes on September 2.