Norwich winger Robert Snodgrass ready for crucial match against Southampton

The Scotland midfielder has provided a good link-up between defence and attack

Jim van Wijk
Friday 08 March 2013 14:14 GMT
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Norwich: Robert Snodgrass, £3m from Leeds
Norwich: Robert Snodgrass, £3m from Leeds

Winger Robert Snodgrass is ready to cover every blade of grass at Carrow Road again tomorrow if it helps Norwich beat Southampton and move them closer to securing Barclays Premier League status.

The Scotland midfielder, signed from Leeds in the summer, has provided a good link-up between defence and attack for Chris Hughton's men, who will be out to make it back-to-back home wins tomorrow and put last weekend's 4-0 defeat at Manchester United out of their system.

And Snodgrass, 25, is happy to put another 90 minutes of hard graft in up and down the flanks if it means Norwich get the result at full-time.

"The fitness coaches show you your numbers, and as an individual you try to beat that each week, so with me running six or seven miles, it is about trying to help the team," said Snodgrass, who has been called up for Scotland's World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Wales.

"People can speak about it taking individuals to win games, but if those individuals are not on their day, then you look for a team (effort) to pull you through - maybe Sebastien Bassong or Michael Turner flicking one in on 94 minutes to keep us in this league.

"We know what it takes as players and as a team - the most important thing is we get the three points and everyone as a club pulls in the right direction."

Snodgrass used to enjoy a pre-match McDonalds as a youngster in Livingston, but the Scotland international accepts today what you fuel up on can have a major impact in performance on the pitch.

"When I was there, I didn't really have the advice you have these days," he recalled.

"I have learned off each nutritionist or fitness coach how to get your body in the best possible shape for match-days, because that is what managers want.

"This Premier League is about high-energy and athletes. It is about preparing yourself from Monday to Saturday so you can be in as good a shape as possible, mentally and physically for a game.

"Sometimes you are just like a machine - you need to eat the right things and take care of your body, on and off the park, especially as the game is so physical now, and as an individual I do that.

"We have got a great nutrition and fitness side of things and that is why people have noticed this season that Norwich do work very, very hard."

Despite their industry, Norwich head into tomorrow's clash having recorded just one victory in their last 11 Premier League games - and that courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Grant Holt to beat Everton.

Snodgrass accepts the team have to be "more ruthless" if they are to avoid being dragged into a battle for survival, currently with a safety net of eight points.

"We have put in some good performances, but just not scored enough goals and so need to be more clinical, if we can do that on Saturday then we will get three points," said Snodgrass, who has weighed in with five goals.

"As a winger, you try to put as many crosses in as you can.

"It is simple, we just have to put the ball in the back of the net, which is why the gaffer has said we need to be more ruthless.

"Maybe it is just about that little bit of magic in front of goal, whatever it is, we need to add that to our game."

PA

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