Wright backs brawn not beauty as key to City’s Championship preparations

Norwich City's pre-season stalemate with Colchester United won't win any beauty contests, but Jacob Wright insists it is the perfect preparation for their Championship campaign. The Canaries played out a goalless draw against the League Two outfit at their Colney training base on Saturday, with Dan Grimshaw's penalty save to deny Kien Connolly coming before Jovon Makama spurned two second-half chances on his return from injury. It felt every inch like a pre-season workout as City continue to crank up their workload in pursuit of a sharper start when the serious stuff arrives next month. Wright, though, argued that the lack of spectacle is a feature rather than a flaw at this stage of July. "There are many different aspects, but I think it's just yourself getting out of it what you can and pushing yourself to make sure that when the crowds are back in and everything, you're at the best level that you can be," the midfielder said. "It's not just the fitness levels, it's taking the cobwebs off and getting back on the ball under pressure and different positioning during games because nothing can replicate game-match fitness and sharpness. They're definitely important. "They're the type of games that we need. The Championship season is competitive. There are tackles flying in everywhere, and the intensity is high. So, they're the type of tests we need during pre-season, and that's where games like this really help us. "The main things are getting back to the level we were at towards the back end of the season and in the basics and the quality on the ball and the intensity that we need to play at to ultimately dominate opposition." This game slots into a wider training regime designed to put City's squad under stress and test their physical conditioning. That process will intensify ahead of a trip to Switzerland to play St Gallen next Friday. "They've been pretty tough. It's gradually ramping up. Next week will be even bigger again. So, the boys are playing with fatigue in these first couple of games. You're not looking for match sharpness coming into games," Wright added. "You're going into games with heavy legs and tiredness. So, yes, it's been tough, but it's been enjoyable and good. "I think we've tried to have the balls out as much as possible and, you know, try and almost disguise the running in ball work. But there's still been plenty of trainers on and running."