MAKING A SPL-ASH
Barnes admits leaving Burnley was tough but he’s now a chirpy Canary who dreams of another promotion
Championship: 3pm
FOR Ashley Barnes, it has taken time to process the end of an era at Burnley.
The veteran striker has generally been the exception to football’s chop-and-change culture after spending almost a decade at Turf Moor.
But Barnes, 34, had to face up to the daunting prospect of starting again this summer at Norwich City.
And the challenges of his first transfer in almost 10 years, including living away from his family, have been keenly felt.
“I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have been in one place for a very long period of time,” he said.
“That doesn’t really happen in football nowadays.
“Moving was a bit daunting, initially. It was strange. You’ve been settled somewhere for so long and then, all of a sudden, there’s all of these new changes happening.
“You have to adapt to everyone else’s ways at a new club, little things like that. Starting again is never easy.” Barnes signed a two-year contract in the summer with a Norwich side which yearns for promotion from the Championship.
The Canaries are seventh ahead of today’s meeting with Cardiff City but fan unrest is rife at Carrow Road.
Supporters took umbrage at David Wagner’s decision to withdraw Josh Sargent and Onel Hernandez in the 4-2 win over Watford in midweek.
But amid that noise, Barnes’ desire for one last dance in the Premier League burns stronger than ever.
He added: “I was brought here by the club for one reason and that is to win promotion. That’s why I chose to come here too. I want another medal.
“As a player, I know I’m not gifted with talent or anything. I’ve not got a fancy name.
“But if you work hard every day and keep working, then people will show faith in you.”
Today’s opponents visit Carrow Road with boss Erol Bulut demanding more from his misfiring forwards. Kion Etete, Yakou Meite and Famara Diedhiou have managed just three goals between them. And the team’s haul of 36 goals in 31 league games highlights why Bulut’s side are in the bottom half of the table.
Bulut said: “It should be a little bit more, for sure. You are expecting more goals from attacking players, and assists.
“Our defenders have more goals than our offensive players!
“We create a lot and we miss a lot. This is the problem. We have chances but we are missing a lot.
“This is up to the player. Every player has to make the decision, to pass, to shoot on the goal, where to shoot – right, left, centre, up, down – we train finishing, every week.”