Six things you might have missed as Clement’s City take shape in Switzerland

After Norwich City's impressive 3-0 victory over St Gallen on Friday night, Connor Southwell delivers six things you might have missed from the Kybunpark.

Everybody knows that pre-season isn't about results, but it is hard to argue against the impressive manner in which Norwich City tore St Gallen apart.

Fitness and sharpness are the priority, but winning in this manner matters, especially when it sees Philippe Clement’s side run over, through and tear apart a team that is just days away from a European qualifier against Portuguese giants Benfica.

It was against that backdrop that Norwich sought this test at this stage of their preparations, designed to stretch them both mentally and tactically.

Norwich knew they would face a team determined to match them man for man. Yet, to the naked eye, Philippe Clement’s side looked closer to lift-off than their Swiss opponents, who were described by their local media as looking 'tired, erratic and lacking in energy'.

For the last pre-season result that felt like a 'statement', if such a thing is possible in a friendly game, City fans would surely have to flip the history books back to July 2022, when they recorded a 3-0 victory over Marseille in France courtesy of goals from Jacob Sorensen and a Jordan Hugill brace.

That Norwich went on to finish 13th that season is a reminder of how cautiously pre-season should be treated. Still, this victory in Switzerland adds to the sense that Clement is moving things in the right direction.

Given the result and comfort of the performance, there may be a temptation to assume this was not a full-strength St Gallen side, but a flick through the team sheet tells you otherwise.

The Swiss side were without first choice goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi after his involvement in the World Cup with Ghana, with deputy shot stopper Lukas Watkowiak starting in his place.

Carlo Boukhala, Aliou Balde, Hugo Vandersmersch, Chima Okoroji, Lukas Gortler, Jozo Stanic, Tom Gaal and Christian Witzig made up eight of the starting XI, all of whom played 30 times or more in the Super League last season.

The other two starters, beyond Watkowiak, were Lukas Daschner and Mihailo Stevanovic - who made 26 and 21 appearances respectively. That underlines that this was a St Gallen side close to full strength, even with their number one missing and Kevin Csoboth and new signing Andrin Hunziker absent.

Hunziker was announced as a new signing from FC Basel pre-game, replacing last season's top-scorer Alessandro Vogt, who completed a €2.7 million move to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim earlier this summer. But beyond the absence of a recognised number nine, this was as strong a side as Enrico Maassen could reasonably have named.

In that context, City’s victory and performance look all the more impressive, especially when you factor in their own World Cup contingent and other players still to come back into the mix.

The headline grabbing will inevitably be done by their attacking efforts and the goals scored during this contest in Switzerland, but City's third successive clean sheet also offers reasons to be encouraged.

Across the 2025/26 campaign, Norwich recorded just nine clean sheets last season - only four Championship clubs, including relegated trio Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford, mustered fewer.

If Norwich want to change their fortunes next term, being more solid will be among the improvements required.

That is why their start to pre-season offers positivity, but it's more that the frequency of high-quality chances have been managed well. Barring a penalty save and gilt-edged late chance against Colchester, City's keepers are yet to be truly tested.

Clean sheets are awarded to goalkeepers, but it is more a metric about how well protected they are. Vladan Kovacevic needed heroic saves and luck at points last season, even amid the wider improvement under Philippe Clement.

City were more aggressive with their defensive line during the opening period and managed St Gallen's attacking threats well. The only opportunities created were a knockdown from a set piece that was squandered by Christian Witzig and Aliou Balde's offside goal.

Clement will likely want to see his side experience defensive pressure in preparation for the new campaign, which could arrive in matches against Premier League side Fulham and Osasuna at Carrow Road in matches ahead, but their defensive progress has been pleasing - especially without Jose Cordoba in the mix.

Is Philippe Clement getting closer to learning his Norwich City starting XI? (Image: Philipp Kresnik)

Norwich City’s starting XI at the Kybunpark on Friday night felt like the first real indication of how they could line up against West Brom on the opening day of the Championship season.

Goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic is expected to resume duties as City’s first-choice keeper, while Kellen Fisher appears to be edging the right-back tussle with Jack Stacey. There is more debate over the centre-back pairing, but many would presume Ruairi McConville and Jose Cordoba will be given the chance to continue their partnership.

Ben Chrisene is currently leading the left-back race following Lucien Mahovo’s injury, with recruitment ongoing for a permanent addition in that position. Pelle Mattsson will be in that starting midfield providing he avoids injury.

Friday’s attacking trio of Oscar Schwartau, Paris Maghoma and Andre Brooks also feel well set to begin the campaign, having threatened constantly throughout this contest with their movement, variety and individual attributes. As an aside, the average age of City’s side was 23.09 years, a reminder of how youthful this group remains.

That still leaves question marks at centre-back, in midfield and up front. With Cordoba, Kenny McLean and the striking duo Jovon Makama and Mo Toure yet to return, it is easy to imagine all three areas entering Clement’s thoughts before West Brom.

It is all still to play for, and Jacob Wright and Harry Darling in particular are laying down early markers, but the skeleton of City’s starting side is beginning to take shape.

Harry Darling has enjoyed an impressive start to pre-season at Norwich City. (Image: Philipp Kresnik)

Harry Darling is challenging the natural order at Norwich City, with an early pre-season impression threatening to disrupt the perception of his place in the defensive pecking order.

Given how Jose Cordoba and Ruairi McConville ended the Championship campaign as Clement's pairing of choice and grew during that rise from the relegation zone to the top half of the table, many assumed it inevitable they would partner up again next term. They still might, but Darling is not giving up without a fight.

Darling was honest in his assessment of his individual performances during the season in a post-season interview with Beyond the Barclay, stating: "I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve been too happy with the way I’ve been this year on the pitch, which is frustrating."

That frustration seems to have fuelled his efforts in these early friendly matches. Darling has performed with consistency and intensity, and has sprayed some excellent passes across the pitch – including two balls that sent Andre Brooks in behind the St Gallen defence.

The mission now is to maintain those standards, but the assumption of City starting with a pairing of McConville and Cordoba is not as settled as it was three weeks ago. Irrespective of who is selected, Darling’s battle-hardened Championship experience and profile mean he is likely to be a key performer next term.

That is the level Darling showed during the first portion of his City career. If he maintains it, then Clement will have a serious, but very welcome, selection headache in the heart of defence with Cordoba and Bruno Alves also options.

Philippe Clement will now take his Norwich City squad on a six day training camp in London. (Image: Philipp Kresnik)

The Canaries’ Championship preparations have now entered the final three weeks before the start of competitive action next month, with a training camp in the capital the next step in Clement’s plan to get his squad in shape.

There will be two fixtures during that period in London, away to League One side Wimbledon in midweek and a behind-closed-doors clash against top-flight side Fulham, wrapped around a schedule of intense training and individual conversations between City’s boss and his players.

Pre-season camps are pivotal, but the decision to stay domestically has been taken deliberately to limit travel, with City’s players consulted in the process.

Last season's trip to the Netherlands was long, involved double games and left City's squad undercooked heading into the Championship season. That slow start and schedule cost Liam Manning his job as head coach.

Clement has been afforded the luxury of devising, rather than inheriting, his own pre-season schedule. He is the first City coach since David Wagner to be in that position. This next week will be a key one, especially as some of the World Cup contingent return and injured players step up their progress. The hope is the squad emerge from it in a strong position.