AFTER marking his first match of City's pre-season tour of Scotland with an impressive display, City 'keeper Declan Rudd was delighted to record his first clean sheet of the season. The Academy product also confirmed he was benefiting no end from playing in the first team and being away with experienced players.
"It was good to get the clean sheet, particularly after Dartford, it was my first clean sheet of the season and it gives me and the defence a bit of confidence," Rudd told First News following the St Johnstone match.
Having featured in the 7-2 triumph at Dartford, the 18-year-old stopper then sat out the 1-0 win over Raith Rovers but was thrilled to be back involved on matchday two in Scotland. Rudd admitted that playing with the first team was a great learning curve for him.
"It's brilliant, playing against fully grown men is new for me having been playing in the youth team and a few reserve games. It's is the tempo and the physical needs of the game that are so much different. It is great experience playing up here and getting to know all the new lads."
With his vantage point at one end of the pitch and his team-mates operating directly in front of him, Rudd had a perfect view of the City performance and said he felt the Canaries' pre-season schedule was certainly making good progress.
"We're passing the ball about well, talking well and organising - obviously there are few little pre-season things that are not going quite right but that's to be expected in the first few games back. But I think we're doing really well and it's coming together nicely."
Part and parcel of the goalkeeper's role is to organise his defence but just how does such a young player feel about issuing instructions to more senior professionals? After all Declan Rudd is a life-long Norwich City supporter who has grown up watching Messrs Doherty and Drury in action.
"It is a bit difficult to begin with but once you are in the game you get into game mode and you don't really think who people are, you just see them as your team-mates and you think they've got to do their job and I've got to do my job.
"If we can help each other by telling each other things then that will make us better. Doc (Gary Doherty) doesn't mind if I say something to him and I don't mind if he says something to me. We are encouraged to give our opinions to one another and take things on board."
