J-ROD’S BAGGIE ROUSER
JAY RODRIGUEZ will have few friends at Villa Park this weekend in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final.
He scored in both of West Brom’s league clashes with Aston Villa, causing a storm when he claimed a stoppagetime equaliser with his hand in the 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns in December.
Rodriguez (above) said: “These are massive games. They are the ones we want to play in and be a part of.” TIM KRUL expects Norwich’s title- winning kids to get “head-turning, big-money” offers this summer from the Premier League’s top clubs.
But the veteran former Newcastle goalkeeper says he will urge the Canaries’ youngsters to stay – for their own good.
Krul is the only regular in Daniel Farke’s starting XI who has Premier League experience.
He has watched young full-backs Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis shine for the Championship winners, whi le England Under - 20 international Ben Godfrey has also impressed in central defence. And attacking talisman Emiliano Buendia is so vital that Norwich have not won once in the league this term without the Argentine.
Tottenham are keen on Aarons and Godfrey has been linked with a host of clubs, including Manchester United.
And Krul ( above, right, with the championship trophy) said: “We all know when the big money is going to be offered, heads are going to get turned.
“But, if Manchester United come in when players are 19 or 20, there’s no point just sitting on the bench. They have to play and I will tell them that. The money will come to these lads. When you look at how well they have done, some of them were in the U-23s last year and no one knew about them.
“Now they are massively sought-after talent – and rightly so.
“Every credit being thrown at them, they deserve. But what a chance for them to play week in, week out if they stay. I can’t wait to see them on the big stage next year.”
Krul has played every minute in the league for the Canaries. Now he is relishing another crack at the top flight after his spell at Newcastle from 2006-2017.
But he will hope their top-flight experience gets off to a better start than yesterday’s parade – when they literally had to park the bus.
The players had intended to tour the city in a canary-yellow bus (left), but when it broke down, they ended up having to push it – and then switched to a red sightseeing one.
As for the challenge ahead, Krul added: “The young ones haven’t come under the negative pressure of losing maybe two or three in a row. That’s going to be new to them.”