Niche Cache.
Dundalk manager Jon Daly: “Norman was willing to come over and train and go on trial with the club, which helps because you get a look at him up close and personal. He’s very raw but he is very explosive and he can get out of the blocks very, very quickly and go either way, left or right. He’s a player that I think will excite people.”
Garbett was unveiled to the Dundalk fans, along with fellow new signing Scott McGill, before a 2-0 home defeat against Waterford. That result keeps them a mere three points clear of last place, six points adrift of the team above them (Bohemians, who have been linked with Alex Greive).
Last place goes down automatically, second to last gets to battle for their spot in a playoff with the second-placed team in the second tier. They are the lowest-scoring team in the division. They need the help. Garbett needs the opportunity. The contract may only be a short-term one (there are 14 LOI fixtures left) but there’s obviously scope to extend him if he settles in and if they can avoid relegation. Mr Daly had plenty more to say about him in the press release, offering some enlightening information...
“[Norman]’s got dual nationality and also holds a French passport and, after being in New Zealand, he was looking for an opportunity to play in Europe and went to Italy. Things went on in the background at the club and he found himself in a position where he didn’t get many minutes and unfortunately missed out on the Olympic squad, which is disappointing for him.
It’s going to take him a while to get up to speed but it’s one of those where we’ll give the kid an opportunity to come in and try and find himself a home until the end of the season and then we’ll look at it after that. He’s been on different trials in the UK but he doesn’t meet the criteria to go there yet and obviously with him having an EU passport, it opened it up for us to bring him in and have a look and hopefully he can have an impact from an attacking sense between now and the end of the season.”
That “doesn’t meet the criteria” stuff about UK clubs is likely one of those pesky post-Brexit things, where it’s trickier now to get a work permit. He is eligible for a British passport but obviously he went with a French one to help him out in the EU. He does at least have several options moving forward... but before anything else he’s gotta get on the pitch and create some goals for Dundalk.
