Before
Now
Dean Ashton spoke of his determination to help Norwich City back into the Premiership at the first attempt as he showed off a mean new look at the Royal Norfolk Show yesterday.
The star striker had his head shaved during the summer after a group of friends decided it was time for a change of style - and as a result he went largely unnoticed when he arrived at the City tent for an autograph signing session.
Ashton was more interested in talking about City's chances for the new season than his hair, or rather the lack of it, when he spoke to the EDP after doing his bit for the fans. But he was happy to explain why he had returned from his summer break with what would have been described as a Crewe cut had he not decided to leave the club to join the Canaries during the January transfer window.
“Let's just say my friends from back home decided to have a bit of a laugh and all the hair came off,” he said. “That's how it happened.
“I'm not too bothered, it's not much of a big deal. It's only hair and it's not going to affect the way I play football.
“The strange thing at the moment is that no-one here seems to recognise me. When I arrived with Simon Charlton all the attention was him, so I'm not complaining!” :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Old Simmo is bald by the way)
Despite his unscheduled encounter with the hair clippers Ashton enjoyed his summer break and is now looking forward to getting back into action with the Canaries.
He feels they are well equipped to reclaim their top-flight status at the first attempt, and will be doing his utmost to ensure they justify their tag as one of the favourites for promotion when the new campaign gets under way on August 6.
“The club has done really well to keep the players they have since relegation - that shows how much they want a quick return to the Premiership,” he said.
“I don't think there is any reason why we shouldn't bounce straight back. Obviously promotion is the main thing, but it would also be nice to be champions, like we were a couple of years ago.
“We all believe that we are one of the best teams in the league and that we should be going up so I can understand why we are one of the favourites with the bookies. The pressure is there but I'm sure it won't be a problem. As I said, we believe we are good enough to go up.”
There was no shortage of speculation linking Ashton with other clubs when City dropped out of the Premiership in May, but the player himself stressed yesterday that he had never asked for a move - and was more than happy to turn out for City in the Coca Cola League Championship.
“As far as I was concerned I was always going to be back here again after the summer break,” he said. “I owe Norwich a lot for taking a chance on me and there was no way I was going to turn round and say 'I want to leave'.
“At the end of the day it's always down to the club, of course. But ever since I arrived here I have been more than happy. I enjoy playing for Norwich City - and I am really looking forward to the start of the new season.
“It took a while before I got the Fulham defeat out of my system. It's not nice losing 6-0 and getting relegated as a result.
“To be honest I was ready for a break after that game. For me last season was a strange one, mentally as well as physically. But now I have had a good rest I'm back and I'm focussed on what I have to do.”
Ashton scored 18 goals in 24 Championship appearances for Crewe last season and is now aiming to hit the ground running for the Canaries following their return to the second tier of English football.
“It would be nice to get off to a good start by scoring a few goals and showing some good form,” he said. “But it's how we start as a team that counts and hopefully we will be quick out of the blocks. We've got three games at Carrow Road to start off with, including one against Crewe funnily enough, and if we can maintain the home form we showed towards the end of last season we should get some wins on the board early on.
“That's our target and, as I said, I can't wait for the first game to come around.”
Source: Pink'un.com
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not sure about his new hairstyle but like Sir Deano said himself "its only a hair cut, it doesnt effect my football"
also great news that he again said he loves the club and is planning to stay
DEANO...DEANO...DEANO...DEANO
::nw:: ::nw:: ::nw:: ::nw:: ::nw::
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Wes Hoolahan & Arturo Lupoli - Get In!!
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NEXT MATCH: Plymouth Argyle Vs. Norwich City | Home Park (Plymouth) | Sat 13th Sept 2008 | Championship
LAST MATCH: Norwich City 1-1 Birmingham City | Attendance: 24,229
NEXT DOMESTIC CUP MATCH: TBA
LEAGUE POSITION: 19th (3 PTS)
TOP SCORERS: Arturo Lupoli (2), Darel Russell (2)
TEAM FROM LAST MATCH: David Marshall, Jon Otsemobor, John Kennedy, Dejan Stefanovic, Ryan Bertrand, Sammy Clingan, Matty Pattison (Lee Croft 68), Mark Fotheringham, Wes Hoolahan, Arturo Lupoli (Jamie Cureton 59), Darel Russell
SUBS NOT USED: Stuart Nelson, OJ Koroma, Troy Archibald-Henville
Ashton's New look
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