Don't let this chance slip away, warns Hucks

Former Canary favourite Darren Huckerby last night urged the Norwich City board to do all they can to back manager Paul Lambert in the January transfer window.

The Canaries have won eight of their last nine games, in all competitions, under Lambert and Huckerby insists that for this success to continue the club must not only hold on to their best players, but also strengthen the squad.

City are currently a class apart in the league and their cup-tie success looks like only adding to the fixture burden, which ultimately could stretch this current group of players to the limit.

But if Lambert manages to hold on to his key players and possibly bolt on one or two more, Huckerby predicts that the good times will soon be returning to Carrow Road.

“It all depends on what happens in January,” said Huckerby, who recently retired from football following two seasons in Major League Soccer with the San Jose Earthquakes in the USA. “We all know the money situation at the club is not great and if you have to balance the books up then you are going to lose good players.

“If we keep the same bunch of players and the key players play as well as they are, then we look good for first or second. The board are going to have to do their best. Lambert is doing a great job at the minute but to keep that job going we are probably going to need two or three new players.”

Huckerby, who returned home to Norfolk last week and who will be making use of his season ticket for this Saturday's visit of Tranmere to Carrow Road, added: “We need to bring in more players to strengthen. We need some kind of pace in the team, whether it be a wideman or a centre-forward.

“We need real, real pace. We need pace and I think that the manager knows that.”

The City boss currently employs a diamond in midfield but Huckerby believes that Lambert would like to have the option of playing with a bit more width if he had a genuine speedster in the ranks.

“He plays a narrow one because he hasn't got any widemen,” said Huckerby. “It would be nice to have the option. Some teams are just going to sit there and could out-fight us, so if we can't pass through them all the time it might be difficult.

“Look at Leeds. They aren't a good team, but they have Beckford who is quick, he's rapid and he gets goals because he is rapid. It's a nice option to have. I'm not saying you'd need to play like that week in, week out, but it would be a nice option to have.”

Huckerby admits he's been very impressed by the job that Lambert has done since taking over from Bryan Gunn in August and the rebuilding work must also take into account for life in the Championship should Norwich win promotion.

“It's the way he's got the players playing for each other,” explained Huckerby. “We're pretty well set. We've probably got one of the best back fours in the league, when everybody is fit. Adam Drury has proved this season why he was rated as one of the best left-backs in the Championship for so many years. We've got the players, we've got the manager, we've got the fans, we've got the stadium, we've got everything we need - it's just a matter of putting everything together.

“If we keep what we've got, and hopefully add to it, I can see only one way for us to go. Let's face it, we need to get out of this league as quick as we can. We can laugh and joke and say we are too big for this league, but we are too big for this league.

“Another season in league one and you lose half your players again and then we are in real trouble. This is the best chance that we have got to get back up straight away. We've got a manager making everything tick.

“We had good players before Lambert took charge, the likes of Wes Hoolahan, Gary Doherty - who's played 30-odd international games - and Grant Holt. Make no mistake about it, those players are too good for this league.

“Darel Russell has played the majority of his career at Championship level and, let's not beat around the bush, we've got better players than 95 per cent of the teams in this league. But it's no good having good players if they don't want to play for each other and they are not organised. Lambert has done that perfectly, better than you could ever have hoped for really.”

Huckerby, who made 203 appearances for the Canaries, scoring 48 goals, is also looking forward to returning to Carrow Road with the mood among fans having changed dramatically since his last visit.

“The fans are in a completely different place to where they were last season. Not so long ago it was all doom and gloom, but it's funny what a winning streak can do for everyone. Carrow Road is a place where you want to go and watch your football. You don't want doom and gloom.

“I'm going to Tranmere at the weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm back full-time now and I'll hopefully be going to some away games too.”

Huckerby's immediate plans also involve recovering from the hip operation he underwent in September, which played a part in his decision to hang up his boots.

He said: “I've got a programme that I have to do every day and I'm probably five or six weeks away from running again. I'm ahead of schedule but I don't have to rush it now!”

Huckerby is also looking forward to carrying out his duties as a Norfolk Ambassador on behalf of Norfolk County Council.

“I started it just before I went away to America so they haven't got much use out of me yet,” joked Huckerby. “It's something that I want to try to continue doing, not excessive amounts, but just enough where I can give a little bit back.”

As to his long-term future, Huckerby has made no secret of the fact that he's keen to earn his coaching badges as part of the Norwich City set-up, but he's adamant he's keeping his options open.

“I'm looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and I'm looking forward to doing something a little bit different. I'm looking at a few different things. I'm open to anything at the minute. I'd certainly like to start my coaching badges. I'm sure I'd have a good book in me - but I'll leave that to other people.”