Not Here To Make Up The Numbers

Will Norris believes Wolves have every chance of taking something from Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Southampton.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men earned the Round Two tie at St Mary’s after defeating Yeovil Town 1-0 in opening round of the competition.

And Norris believes Wolves can approach the game with confidence.

“I think with any cup game like this there’s always an opportunity to go to a big stadium and play well,” explained the goalkeeper.

“The boys are excited to go on and take on a Premier League side. It should be a good test for us.

“We’ve had a bit of a job to do in the league and we know that’s so important.

“But now we’ve got a little break from that with tonight’s game so it should be a good test for us as well as a nice break.

“When I was playing for Cambridge coming to Wolves it was a different situation because we were never expected to win really.

“It was a free hit for us so we just went out and enjoyed the occasion.

“We have to enjoy the occasion tonight but knowing that we’ve got a good chance of getting something.

“When you play for a team like Wolverhampton Wanderers, it’s never a case of going anywhere to make up the numbers.

“We need to play to win the game, and we believe that we can.

“That’s how we’re approaching games at the moment and, with the way the Head Coach has good us set up, it’s a good combination.

“It’s a good squad to be involved with at the moment so we’re all enjoying ourselves.”

Norris made his Wolves debut in the 1-0 victory over Yeovil earlier this month and the 24-year-old enjoyed his first outing for the club.

He said: “I went from playing 55 games last year to not playing much so it was nice to get the boots on and get the first 90minutes of the season in as well.

“It was good for me to go and get my debut. I have to be professional and prepare as though I’m going to play in every game.

“You never know what might happen last minute.

“I got my debut at Cambridge because the goalkeeper got injured in the warm-up and I had to be ready.

“The same thing could happen here, or it might come about a different way.

“All I can do is control the controllables and make sure I prepare as well as possible.

“It’s not an opportunity to go out and do things that I wouldn’t usually do, I’ve got to go and play my game, make the saves and be as calm as possible.

“As long as I look after every game as an individual game then I think the rest will come.

“I think that’s what’s been good for me in my career so far, I’m a pretty chilled-out goalkeeper.”

“When I signed, I signed knowing that I wouldn’t come in and play ahead of John Ruddy.

“It’s another stage of my career where I’ve had to come in and learn absolutely everything from him.

“Worst case scenario is that I’ve learnt under John Ruddy for a period of time.

“I’m determined to push him hard and hopefully get the ‘number 1’ shirt one day.”

Although the Round One victory was Norris’ Molineux debut in a Wolves shirt, it wasn’t the first time he played at the stadium.

The goalkeeper started between the sticks for visiting Cambridge United when the sides met in Round Two of the EFL Cup last season.

And Norris saved a second-half James Henry penalty in front of the South Bank.

Discussing the game, the goalkeeper said: “Penalties are a win-win for a goalkeeper, you’re not expected to save it so if you do save it you’re a hero but if you don’t then it doesn’t matter.

“I had a good run with penalties last year – I just wish we’d stopped giving them away in the end.

“Last year was a good year for me, getting so many games. I thought I did quite well in the games that I played too.

“It was just a good time for me at the football club, I was there for five years and gave the club absolutely everything I had.

“Luckily that impressed the people at Wolves and they came in for me as a result.

“That’s the same thing I’ve got to do here really, give everything I can for the shirt.”