Football
Exclusive: Kenny McLean Eyeing Historic Premier League Promotion Hat-Trick with Norwich City
Norwich City's Kenny McLean is determined to achieve a third Premier League promotion as the midfielder reflects on past successes and eyes another push under new boss Johannes Thorup.
Image Credits: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Kenny McLean is hungry to achieve a fantastic hat-trick of Premier League promotions with Norwich City.
The Scotland international midfielder famously won two promotions to the topflight with the Canaries in 2019 and 2021.
Hungry for Success
But the Norfolk club were relegated back to the second tier in 2022 and have spent the last two seasons trying to get out of the division.
Last season McLean and co reached the Play-off semi-finals but saw their promotion hopes disappointing ended after a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Leeds United in the second leg at Elland Road.
“I want it more than ever now,” revealed McLean, now in his eighth season at Carrow Road.
He told SportsBoom.com: “A hat-trick of Premier League promotions sounds good to be.”
“We want to do as much as we can this season – and we think we’ve got everything in place for that.”
“This club is really going in the right direction, and we have a lot of young players.”
“Everything behind the scenes is set up for us to be really successful, so it’s about the players on the pitch doing the job now.”
A Premier League Ready Squad
“It’s an easy group to come into for the new players (we’ve signed), they’ve been identified for their qualities and the way we want to play, they’ll be totally fine this season.”
“You can see their qualities already, hopefully they can use them to the best of our advantage.”
“It’s been a couple of years in the Championship now, but everyone at this level wants to make that step and get to the Premier League.”
“That’s what everybody’s aims and ambitions will be this season – and we’re no different to that. We want to do as well as we can.”
“We know it’s going to be tough, it always in this division, that’s what it has showed us these last couple of years.”
But I think not being able to make that step makes you even hungrier because you know that feeling – and a lot of the other lads to – of what it’s like to get that promotion.
Kenny McLean
A New Era Under Thorup
New Danish boss Johannes Thorup replaced German coach David Wagner in the Carrow Road hot-seat in May after the club narrowly missed out on Premier League promotion last term.
But 44-cap experienced Scotland international McLean has quickly bought into the new manager’s blueprint for success and is confident the club can achieve another famous promotion back to the big time.
“This league is very ‘unpredictable’, that’s the world which sums this league up perfectly,” added McLean, 32.
Tackling the Championship’s Tough Terrain
“It’s always going to be tough, it’s a league where those no gimmies no matter who you play, whether it’s promoted teams or relegated teams.”
“Whoever it is, every game, you need be at your best. That’s what we need to be week-in, week-out.”
“You don’t want to be chasing your tails come Christmas and towards the end of the season. We did that a wee bit last season.”
“We had a really poor spell before Christmas, so I think every week matters.”
“But is anything a shock in this division, I don’t know?”
McLean, the Canaries’ Player of the Season last term, added: “From a personal note I want to get better and continue to improve. Physically I still feel as well as I ever have, and every day I’m learning new things, so I think I will and can improve still.”
“I’ll try and do that under the new manager and try and do as much as I can for this football club, which I always have.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.