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Page last updated at 14:30 GMT, Sunday, 26 July 2009 15:30 UK

Adeyemi eyes Norwich first team

Tom Adeyemi
Adeyemi's Norwich career started when he was eight-years-old

Midfielder Tom Adeyemi wants to fight for a place in the Norwich first team this season after impressing in their latest friendly match at Carrow Road.

The 17-year-old scored a 20-yard screamer against a Manchester United XI on Saturday and told BBC Radio Norfolk he is ready for the big stage.

"I've just got to keep working hard and hopefully I'll be in and around it.

"There'll be lots of competition in midfield so it'll be tough to get in but I'm up for the fight," he said.

Norwich boss Bryan Gunn now has something of a selection headache, less than two weeks before the opening game of the League One season, after acquiring a number of midfielders in his summer transfer dealings.

"They're all in my thoughts and now Tom has pushed his way up there as well. It was good to sit next to Ian Crook [senior coach], analysing the performance from Tom," said Gunn.

"He just looked at me and said 'he's given you a problem,' and that's what managers want. We want competition for places.

"Tom's up there competing for one of the two spots in midfield, on today's showing he's shown what a good player he is."

Adeyemi, who has yet to make his competitive first-team debut, has come all the way through the Canaries youth system after being spotted at a Football In The Community event nearly ten years ago.

Gunn says he is a credit to the club's unsung heroes at the Colney Training Centre.

"He's an excellent prospect, and that's the reason he played today. I was quite proud to stand up in front of the academy staff this morning when they were having their induction meeting.

"He started right at the grassroots and he's made his way straight into the first-team. What a story that is," he said.

"He didn't looked overawed by playing against Manchester United today, and he took the game to them."



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see also
Canaries draw with young Man U XI
25 Jul 09 |  Norwich
Norwich youngsters exit Youth Cup
07 Mar 09 |  Norwich
Canaries make Youth Cup quarters
06 Feb 09 |  Norwich
Norwich youth set for Wigan test
02 Dec 08 |  Norwich


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