Philippe Clement says Wednesday’s friendly at AFC Wimbledon is part of a crucial stretch in Norwich City’s Championship countdown, but the real selection decisions will come in the behind-closed-doors test at Premier League Fulham.
Norwich have gone from their 3-0 win over St Gallen in Switzerland into a six-day training camp, with the club using this brief window to sharpen the squad before the season proper. Clement made clear that the trip is about more than match fitness, with the coaching staff planning detailed work with the players on and off the pitch.
He said the aim is to use the camp to build team cohesion, adding that he is looking forward to spending “24 hours a day” with the squad and to holding individual meetings across the week. Those talks, he explained, will run for “half an hour to 45 minutes” with every player, and will cover goals for the season ahead as well as what can improve physically, tactically and mentally.
Clement: the Fulham game matters more for minutes
On team selection, Clement was direct about the order of priorities. “They will not take minutes against Wimbledon, but probably against Fulham. That's the idea,” he said, making it clear that the Wednesday fixture is unlikely to be where the most important players get meaningful game time.
That approach fits the wider theme of Norwich’s preparation. The first three friendlies have been used to assess younger players, while the squad now moves into a phase where the coaching staff want to bring the group closer together and set standards for the Championship campaign.
There is also a practical reason for the timing. Clement said he expects Jovon Makama and Papa Diallo back in training for some exercises, while the club’s World Cup trio of Jose Cordoba, Kenny McLean and Anis Ben Slimane are part of the broader picture as the squad continues to come together.
Why the St Gallen trip mattered
Clement pointed to the value of the Switzerland trip after the 3-0 win over St Gallen, saying the difference in the game showed why these trips matter at this stage of pre-season. He described it as a useful test against an aggressive opponent, one that gave younger players the kind of experience they need to keep progressing.
“They're all dying to wear the shirt. They all work really hard,” he said, underlining the attitude he wants from the group. And while some players struggled at moments against St Gallen, Clement framed that as a normal part of development rather than a concern.
For Norwich, the next few days are less about the result against AFC Wimbledon and more about clarity. The Fulham game at the end of the six-day camp looks set to tell the club more about where the key players stand, while the work done behind the scenes should shape how ready they are when the Championship season arrives.
