Dean Ashton Praises Philippe Clement's Impact on Norwich City
Former Norwich City striker Dean Ashton has praised manager Philippe Clement's impact on the team, saying he has done a brilliant job in improving the players he inherited. Ashton believes Clement has a ruthless edge and works the players hard, which has transformed the team from potential relegation candidates to a side that finished ninth in the table last season.
What happened?
Clement's appointment at Carrow Road last November came at a time when City were second-from-bottom in the Championship with only nine points from 15 games. However, the Belgian soon began to turn their form around, with Norwich winning 14 of their 22 games after the New Year, including emphatic victories on the road at West Brom and Bristol City.
Why it matters for Norwich City
Ashton said: "I think he (Clement) has got a ruthless edge, I think he works them hard and he got them organised straight away. They got a character about them all of a sudden, from a team that looked like they were the easiest team to beat in the division, they had a steeliness about them."
What comes next?
Norwich's signings so far this summer have raised hopes of a promotion push, as the club chase what would be a return to the Premier League for the first time in five years. Young Brazilian defender Bruno Alves has come in on loan from Cruzeiro, with Cameroon international Darlin Yongwa and midfielder Sam Field coming in from Lorient and QPR respectively. But it's the arrival of midfielder Andre Brooks, 22, from Sheffield United for an initial £8m that has most caught the eye.
Dean Ashton's Verdict
Ashton - who scored 18 goals in 46 appearances during his time with the Canaries - said: "That was one that probably surprised a few people. He's a talented young player, obviously, who's done great while he developed at Sheffield United. You'd like to think what he heard from the manager and the club, with their ambitions, and maybe after seeing how it was after the back end of last season, he sees something exciting there."
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 9th in Championship, 65 pts, 19W-8D-19L from 46 games, recent form LDWWL. Goals this season: 63 scored, 56 conceded (+7 goal difference). Title race: 30 points behind leaders Coventry. Currently sidelined: Mirko Topić.
