Former Coventry City loanee finds ‘best position’ ahead of return against Sky Blues
Coventry City election news from CoventryLive as we investigate how Brooke Norton-Cuffy, an Arsenal loanee, is impressing at Millwall ahead of next week’s clash with the Sky Blues.
Millwall manager Joe Edwards believes that after joining the Lions, former Coventry City loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy has found his best position.
During the second half of the 2022/23 season, the 19-year-old Arsenal prospect spent a half-season loan with the Sky Blues, helping Mark Robins’ men reach the Championship play-off final at Wembley. During his 21 appearances, Norton-Cuffy was mostly used as a right wing-back, and he grew in confidence throughout his time at the CBS Arena.
A summer switch to The Den, on the other hand, appears to have seen the young Gunner kick-on again and, according to his new manager, find his natural role, leaving the teenager in fine form ahead of his former club’s visit to South East London next week. Since joining The Den in August, the Arsenal loanee has played at wing-back, right midfield, and right-back, and has shown flashes of brilliance in each position. The highlight of his tenure thus far has been a spectacular goal against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, his first for the club and only the second of his senior career.
“I think what he’s done in moving around at Millwall and previously is important for him,” Millwall manager Edwards told southwarknews. “It’s the modern-day player, particularly players like Brooke, who are defenders by nature but have good attacking qualities and play on the wing.”
“When you look at so many of today’s top players, they have to be adaptable, versatile.” Because so many teams switch between a back four and a back five, if you’re a natural full-back, you must be prepared to play in a back four and then as a wing-back. So I think it’s a good thing he did it.
“To be honest, I wanted to have that conversation with him early on. I spoke to him in the week leading up to the game and said, ‘It’s great that you’re doing that, where do you see yourself long-term, and what do you prefer?'”
“And he did mention that going forward, he probably sees himself as a right-back later in his career, and that in general, he’s probably at his most comfortable when he’s in a right-back position and coming onto the game.” And we witnessed it. He arrived late in the goal he set for Sav at a breakneck pace. That came from a right-back position, and he was put to the test, particularly in the first 20 minutes.
“They were playing a lot of balls out to their left wing-back, and Brooke was caught in a quandary of ‘does he go, does he stay?'” So it was difficult for him at first.
“However, as his confidence grew, it culminated in that fantastic individual goal.” We played him in his best and most comfortable position on Saturday. It’s partly due to the fact that I spoke with him and he told me. But, in the future, will he move and take on different roles? He will, without a doubt, because that is the modern-day player.”
