Hughton takes heat off Van Wolfswinkel expectations

03 July 2013 16:46

Norwich City manager Chris Hughton warned on Wednesday that record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel cannot be expected to secure Premier League survival on his own.

Norwich smashed their transfer record earlier this week when they paid £8.5 million ($13 million, 10 million euros) to bring the Dutch international striker to Carrow Road from Sporting Lisbon.

Although the Canaries finished 11th in the Premier League last season, they scored the joint-third lowest number of goals in the division (41), but Hughton does not want to place too much pressure on the shoulders of their 24-year-old new boy.

"We have brought Ricky in here for a particular reason but he is a team player, first and foremost, that has a responsibility to the team to lead the line and ultimately score goals, but that comes with the territory," said Hughton.

"I don't believe with how tactical and the speed of the game nowadays that you can just be a goal scorer. First and foremost, you have to be a team player."

Hughton added: "The responsibility Ricky has is a normal one for a football player. He wants to do well."

Van Wolfswinkel, who earned his second senior Dutch cap against Indonesia in June, says he believes he possesses the necessary attributes to succeed amid the cut-throat pace of the English top flight.

"I want to show from day one what I can do and I hope for a great season," he said.

"At the beginning, it will be new for the defenders who play against me. That will change after a while but if they know how I play or if they don't know how I play, it will always be up to me to do well for the team.

"I know my qualities fit in the English league."

Source: AFP