Freddie speaks as he's already a hit with the Sky Blues

Last updated : 11 August 2008 By Shrimpers24
(Edited reports from the Coventry Evening Telegraph August 8 and 11)

THE protracted 'will he or won't he' saga of Freddy Eastwood dominated Coventry City's summer headlines. 

But when the £1.5 million signing from Wolves rattled in a brace against Cambridge United in his first pre-season start for the Sky Blues, the tedious wranglings that had City chiefs at their wits end and supporters hanging on every press report, were forgotten in a flash. For there was the striker - a cult figure at every club he has been at - doing what he does best in a Coventry shirt.

After linking up smartly with Leon Best in what has the makings of an extremely promising partnership, the 24-year-old said: "It is always nice to get a goal or two in the pre-season, especially when you come to a new club, because sometimes you can try too hard. It was good to show the lads what I was brought in for and take a bit of pressure off me.

"I was pleased to get 70-odd minutes under my belt and I felt a lot better, certainly than I did in Switzerland where I struggled to play 45 minutes, but I feel a lot sharper. Hopefully, we have done all the hard stuff and all the running and I can now concentrate on the football and get back to what I am good at, which is turning players, getting my shots off and linking up play. I enjoyed playing up with Leon and I think it is going to work brilliantly this year because every time I seem to play up front with a big man it gives defenders that little bit more to think about. When Besty is coming to feet, I can go in behind and when he's going long I tend to drop in the hole, so it should work really well."

Of course, we still haven't factored Clinton Morrison into the equation yet, and once he is fully fit it makes for a mouth watering prospect of all three vying for those two starting positions, and one champing at the bit to get on from the bench.

"I am really looking forward to the new season," said Eastwood, whose ratio of a goal every two games at Southend first brought him to prominence and prompted his big money move to Molineaux last summer.

But things didn't work out under Mick McCarthy despite the fans siding with the player and being desperate to see him given more of a chance in a gold shirt. In the end the two parted company and the likable and laid back striker is relishing a fresh start.

"I have got a lot to prove coming to a new club and new set of fans, and obviously to myself because I didn't play a lot last season," he said in his strong cockney accent. "But I feel that if I am playing week in, week out, I will score goals as I have done over my career."

And the exciting forward who has already displayed the ability to make things happen on the pitch, able to conjour something from nothing, believes he will be more at home at Coventry who play in his favourite colour.

"I have been quite lucky and every time I play in a blue shirt I tend to score goals," he said. "I played in a gold shirt last year and didn't play enough but wherever I play I will score goals, but the main thing is just keeping fit and sharp and the goals will come."

One of the big complaints from fans at Wanderers was that McCarthy didn't play him to his strengths, and his arrival at City may have something to do with Chris Coleman reverting to a 4-4-2 system.

"I have played a few different positions," said the versatile Wales international.  "John Toshack plays one up front sometimes and the midfield break quite a bit so I get possession of the ball, hold it up and wait for the runners, but sometimes we play with two up front.   I often play with Craig Bellamy, who is obviously a quick man, up front. And Besty is a very quick player in behind and it just gives the defenders something to think about if they are tight to me because we can use his pace in behind.  Besty is big and and strong as well and, hopefully, I can drop in behind and work well to get some goals this season.  It will be even better if Clinton signs. 
(He has).  He has nothing to prove because he's been a prolific goal scorer throughout his career, and he will add very good competition. No striker wants to be comfortable. We all want to be playing week in and week out, but if you are not doing it and someone else is then sometimes you have to drop down to the bench and that can give you a little wake-up call."

As for his popularity with the fans, his goals clearly help but his personality, background and work rate on the pitch make for a winning combination.

"I feel I am a good character," he said. "I am quite laid back and get on with everyone. I also work very hard and if I am doing my job on the pitch then, hopefully, the fans are going to take to me like they have done at my other clubs."

Early reports show he was tightly marked by the Norwich defence and didn't get a chance.  Freddie was taken with 10 minutes left but only to bring on a holding midfielder al la Grant. 

Former Norwich player Leon McKenzie came back to haunt his old club as he scored the final goal in Coventry's 2-0 victory over the Canaries.

Centre-back Elliott Ward gave the Sky Blues the lead as he converted from the spot moments after the second half had kicked off following a seemingly innocuous challenge by Norwich midfielder Sammy Clingan on Stephen Wright.

McKenzie's late strike earned Chris Coleman's men all three points as a total of 12 debutants took to the field at the Ricoh Arena.

Canaries boss Glenn Roeder gave debuts to six of his summer signings including on-loan Fiorentina striker Arturo Lupoli and former Portsmouth defender Dejan Stefanovic but it was the lesser-known John Kennedy who made the biggest early impact for the visitors.

The on-loan Celtic defender was on hand to make a vital block in the 16th minute when Coventry winger Julian Gray's cross-cum-shot drifted goalbound.

And five minutes later the Scot proved his attacking pedigree with a spectacular overhead kick which would have given his team the lead had team-mate Lee Croft not got in the way and inadvertently deflected the ball wide.

Coleman opted to field a completely new-look strike force as Freddy Eastwood and Clinton Morrison lined up alongside each other in the Sky Blues attack for the first time since their summer moves from Wolves and Crystal Palace respectively but neither player was afforded any space by a stoic Canaries defence.

I believe Coleman is already well on the way to handling him far better than the Wolves manager and will be rewarded with a 20 goal return from Fred.