robinson wants to stay

30 December 2005
Robinson - I'm loving it with City

RICK WAGHORN

Try keeping the smile off the face of City new boy Carl Robinson.

For as the Canaries gear up for their latest festive outing at Leicester City tomorrow (3pm), the on-loan Sunderland midfielder revealed just how much he's settled into Norfolk life - particularly into a team that has finally returned to winning ways.

?I'm loving every minute of it, to be honest,? said the Welsh international. ?They're a great bunch of lads. It's a great team to play in and I think that over the last few games we've shown that - as many people suspected -we've got one of the best squads in this league.?

With successful Championship title campaigns with both Sunderland and Portsmouth under the 29-year-old's belt, Robinson ought to know what a makes a potential play-off outfit tick. Or, at least, what the difference is between the Canary side that slunk away from Pride Park, Derby, with nothing to show for their miserable efforts and the City team that inflicted a first home defeat on Sheffield United on Boxing Day - a performance that not only had the rest of the Championship sitting up and taking notice, but also saw the Canaries pick up the Performance Of The Week award from the League Managers' Association.

?I just think we're now looking solid as a unit - plus we're passing the ball very, very well,? said Robinson, widely expected to transform his initial two-month loan deal into a permanent contract once the January transfer window opens next week.

He is also likely to find himself centre stage in the team, too, as he steps into Youssef Safri's midfield holding role once the Moroccan playmaker disappears for African Cup of Nations duty next week.

As for City's first award of the season, the Canaries have one or two familiar faces to thank for their richly-deserved pat on the back for wiping the smile off Neil Warnock's face.

For the LMA's five-man Performance of the Week panel is not only chaired by Worthington's long-time mentor, Howard Wilkinson, but also includes ex-Posh boss Barry Fry, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and recent Carrow Road visitor Dave Bassett. The fifth and final member lives and works just down the road in the shape of Ipswich Town boss Joe Royle.

Worthington will receive a specially-engraved crystal football in a presentation to be screened on tomorrow's edition of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday programme as the Canaries head for the Walkers Stadium and gun for their fifth straight Championship success.

?Leicester play football and so do we, so it should be a good game,? said Worthington.

?Everyone is feeling confident after our recent good run - but everyone is also focused on the need to keep it going and that is what we will be aiming to do.?

Bumps and bruises permitting, Worthington should be in the happy position of being able to name an unchanged starting line-up for the third game in a row - a unique achievement this injury-ravaged season.

The one certain change will be on the bench following Leon McKenzie's latest injury setback. The luckless City striker's place on the bench is likely to go to teenage prospect Rossi Jarvis. Elder brother Ryan, Matthieu Louis-Jean remain injured. Jason Shackell and Jim Brennan remain on the sick list.

Having shrugged off his own bout of festive flu', Dickson Etuhu will probably have to wait until Monday's reunion with Preston North End and Safri's suspension before reclaiming his starting place

Posted By: lurd, Dec 30, 12:59:22