Express & Star

Cameron Norman eager to impress at Walsall

He’s had 12-months of upheaval but Cameron Norman now feels settled at Walsall and ready to realise his potential.

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Just a year ago, the defender was adjusting to life in the Football League having joined Oxford United from King’s Lynn Town.

Yet six months later he was on the move again after Walsall paid an undisclosed fee to take him to the Banks’s Stadium.

After being thrown straight into the side for a win at Gillingham, Norman then found himself in and out of the team as the Saddlers were relegated from League One.

And he admits it’s only been since the start of pre-season that he’s truly felt settled in the West Midlands.

“I had a crazy season last year,” Norman said. “The start was brilliant, getting my chance in the Football League. It was something I had worked really hard for.

“Then I was on the move again. I had just moved to Oxford from Norwich. But then I had to make another big move.

“When I joined I came into the group in January and things were on a bit of a downward slope but things have been completely different since the new gaffer came in. I feel more settled and a lot more confident.

“In the team, I understand my role a lot better, I feel I have found my place now.”

Walsall travel to take on Crewe tomorrow having impressed against Northampton and Forest Green in their opening matches in League Two. But they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle after falling to 3-2 loss against Crawley on Tuesday.

In contrast, the Railwaymen progressed after overcoming Championship outfit Middlesbrough on penalties.

And Norman is eager for the Saddlers to put their cup defeat behind them and get back to winning ways.

“We got the win at Northampton and we felt we should have won against Forest Green,” he continued. “We are trying to build some momentum so we were disappointed to lose against Crawley. It was definitely a game that from the outset we wanted to win.

“But you have to get over things quickly and we learnt a lot from it.

“Crewe got a good result, it’s always nice to beat a big team and I’m sure they will get confidence from it. But we know our jobs. We have made a good start and if we perform how we can perform and how we have performed, we should get a positive result.”

Norman has become one of Walsall’s set-piece takers this season – with the 23-year-old eager to take free-kicks and corners. But he also has a monster long-throw. And that is something he also hopes can benefit the team.

“I think the boss is quite keen to use it more,” he added. “To be fair a few of the boys didn’t quite know where it came from.

“It’s definitely something we can use if we need to.”