Oliver Norwood is pleased the prediction Sir Alex Ferguson made about him has finally come true.
Norwood earned plenty of praise for his role in Sheffield United’s first Premier League win in over 12 years. The midfielder was instrumental as playmaker as the Blades beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
His manager, Chris Wilder, told the Guardian he fully deserves his chance in England’s top flight. For Norwood, though, the opportunity to prove it has been a long time coming.
Now aged 28, that win over Palace and the opening day 1-1 draw at Bournemouth are so far the Northern Irishman’s only appearances in the division.
Yet Norwood has come so close before. In 2016/17 he was part of the Brighton and Hove Albion team promoted from the Championship. Despite playing 33 league games that season, Brighton boss Chris Hughton decided Norwood was not right for his squad.
The following season he was loaned to Fulham and once again earned promotion to the top tier. And once again Norwood was deemed not good enough.
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In the summer of 2018 he joined the Blades in an initial loan move that became permanent the following January. For the third year running Norwood was promoted from the Championship, but this time Wilder would give him his chance.
Fergie predicted this for Oliver Norwood
The midfield ace was in the Manchester United academy from the age of six to 21. Norwood never made a senior appearances for the Red Devils.
However, when he left for Huddersfield Town in 2012, the club’s legendary manager took some time out to wish him well.
“When I was leaving he told me: ‘You’re not going to make it for Manchester United but I do believe one day you’ll play in the Premier League’,” Norwood told the Guardian.
“Whether he meant it or not I don’t know, but they were very kind words from a man of that stature.”