Everson makes Minstermen move

Everson makes Minstermen move

Published Jan. 15, 2013 1:15 p.m. ET

Former Scotland boss George Burley has backed Gordon Strachan to be a success as national team manager.

Former Coventry, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough boss Strachan was presented to the media at Hampden Park on Tuesday after agreeing a deal that will see him take charge of the national side until after the 2016 European Championship.

And ex-Ipswich boss Burley believes the 55-year-old has all the attributes to make the transition from club to international management.

"It is a great appointment and it is a job that he will enjoy," said Burley. "He knows it will be a difficult job but I think he will adapt fine.

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"The task is for Scotland to qualify for major championships but there is no magic wand.

"You can't change the players that much and you can't buy players, it is not a club job where you are working with them every day.

"It's about trying to get the best out of the players you have. But I think it is an excellent appointment."

Burley struggled during his time in charge of Scotland and, after failing to negotiate the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals, he was sacked in November 2009 following a 3-0 defeat by Wales in Cardiff which left him having won just three out of 14 games.

Burley was succeeded by Strachan's predecessor Craig Levein, who left his position as head coach following a poor start to 2014 World Cup qualification, having taken just two points from four games.

Evans joined Graham Alexander's squad at the start of the month following his release from Rotherham and played in the back-to-back defeats to Northampton and Bristol Rovers that leave the Cod Army outside the play-off places on goal difference.

Nevertheless the 24-year-old winger is convinced the Blue Square Bet Premier champions have what it takes to step up for the second consecutive campaign.

"I think the aim is to go up, it's as simple as that really," Evans said.

"Whether that's through the play-offs or it's automatic promotion we'll have to see, but the squad's definitely good enough. I've played in a few teams in League Two now and I know a good team when I see one.

"There's some really, really decent players here and with this manager in charge and the set-up and the backroom staff that he has there's everything in place for the club to go up to League One, without a shadow of a doubt."

The Canaries' goalless draw against Newcastle on Saturday ended a run of four straight Premier League defeats, and they head to Anfield to face the Reds this weekend looking to return to winning ways.

Despite their poor showing in the league over the festive schedule, a 10-match unbeaten run from after the mid-October international break means Norwich remain seven points clear of the relegation places.

That, though, looked a long way off when Chris Hughton's men were torn apart by a rampant Liverpool side at the end of September, when Luis Suarez helped himself to another hat-trick at Carrow Road.

Centre-back Turner revealed that humiliating reverse prompted a lot of soul-searching within the Norwich dressing room, which helped the squad regroup and go on to record memorable victories over both Arsenal and Manchester United.

"It was a bit of a watershed," Turner said in the Norwich Evening News.

"It was a shocking start in that game, conceding so early, then we were on the back foot for most of the first half and in the second half we capitulated a little bit.

"It was a massive disappointment for everyone and after that game we dusted ourselves down, had a look at what we wanted to do and what we wanted to achieve.

"We have done well from there and we will be looking to put in a performance there to hopefully get one back on them a little bit.

"It is going to be a tough one and they have got some great players, but it is one we can look forward to.

"Everyone looks forward to playing at Anfield, so we have to prepare right and hopefully we can put in a good performance and get something."

Hughton is continuing his search for reinforcements, with West Ham forward Carlton Cole the latest name said to be on Norwich's radar as well as Celtic striker Gary Hooper.

The Canaries manager, however, insists no matter what side he is able to put out after the January transfer window shuts, they must produce the required performance to avoid being sucked back down into the dogfight for survival.

"Absolutely, there is a danger (of being dragged in)," Hughton said.

"There are certainly more positives than negatives (from performances) at the moment, but we have to play well enough to get the points to stay clear of that at the bottom.

"If you aren't able to then it is not only us, but anybody can get dragged into that."

The 25-year-old, who been training with the club for the past month, has previously played in the United States for West Texas A&M University before a spell in Iceland last year.

Everson, who will be able to feature against Aldershot on Saturday if the clearance comes through, scored seven times in 10 games for Tindastoll before being part of the Premier League side Breidablik who qualified for Europe.

"Ben is someone I've had for three or four weeks now and he's done extremely well," manager Gary Mills told the club's official website.

"I've liked what I've seen so I've given him a contract until the end of the season.

"I have signed him for the right reasons because he looks a very good player".

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