Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘TODD HAS THE TALENT TO MAKE IT’
DEAN SMITH has no intention of giving up on enigma Todd Cantwell.
The Norwich midfielder, 23, hardly played under previous Canaries boss Daniel Farke this season.
Smith thrust him back in the side for his first game in charge – the 2-1 win over Southampton last week – but took him off at half-time. Billy Gilmour, another ignored by Farke, starred in a super second-half show.
But new boss Smith backed Cantwell to reclaim the form that made him an England Under-21 star.
Smith said: “He has the attributes to be a top Premier League player.
“There is a talented footballer there – we will continue to work with him. It won’t take a lot to get him back close to the levels we need.“
The Saints win gave Smith (right) a dream start and lifted Norwich off the bottom.
Now they are gunning for three wins in a row as Smith’s reign starts with a second home game against Wolves today.
The manager said: “There’s a lot of points to play for and a lot of teams within reach.
“The togetherness you can create with your supporters can be an advantage and we have to make every advantage count.”
Bruno Lage wants a special team not individuals at Wolves.
Lage’s side have risen to sixth on the back of 16 points from seven games. The Portuguese boss plays an attacking 3-4-3 system which requires forwards to work back.
Lage said: “We don’t have that special player. What I want is a team and the team can be special.
“Raul, Podence and Hwang and the midfielders are working hard and helping us to press. This is the most important thing.”
Lage has a small squad and will be without injured Willy Boly today.
The Wolves manager said: “The challenge starts now. We are going to play eight games in five weeks.
“We are working with 16 players plus two goalkeepers. I need everyone fit and ready.”