Norwich City: McConville Brighton move ticked all the boxes..
“We need him” – That was Johannes Hoff Thorup’s first impression of Norwich City’s new young centre back Ruairi McConville.
The 19-year-old made his Championship debut as a second half substitute in the 4-2 home win over Stoke, following his transfer deadline day move from Premier League Brighton.
The Northern Irish international fits the recruitment profile for City’s rebuild, but for Thorup brings more than talent and technical ability.
“One thing that stands out very, very clearly is his character, his personality and he’s so eager to learn,” said the City chief. “There’s so much talk about data and analysis and all that, but just to sit next to a player, look him in the eyes, ask some questions about where he is in life, and how we see his development, and he was also asking questions back where we see him, and what we want from him and stuff like that.
“To have that conversation, away from all the analysis, but to sit down and then have that feeling, ‘Okay, he will be a good fit for us’. I said to Ben (Knapper) straight after our first meeting, ‘We need him’.
“This first six months here will probably be a little bit about learning the Championship, and for him to find the minutes where he can get in and get some experience, but, definitely one for the future. But I think it’s realistic to expect some performances from him also quite soon.”
McConville is competing with Shane Duffy, Jose Cordoba and Manchester City loanee Callum Doyle to nail down a starting spot in the middle of the City defence.
“He’s so interested in his own development, how he can do things a little bit different to gain something at the end,” said Thorup. “You want to be in an environment where that is the culture, where players do a little bit extra, even though the training session is over. He wants to be out there and train on small details in his game, and that’s a big thing.
“He’s a ball playing centre back, which is important for how we play. There needs to be a certain level in terms of what they can do on the ball, and how comfortable they are on the ball.
“He can do that and with his personality with his technical skills with his mindset also in defending because I think he’s a great header as well and a good size for a Championship centre back, there are a lot of qualities to work with.”
