Former loan player Andrew Cave-Brown is backing the Linnets for promotion this season.The 18-year-old Norwich City defender spent two months on Southern League Premier Division duty at The Walks at the turn of the year and saw enough to convince him that Lynn are worthy of a place in a higher league.

By CHRIS LAKEY

Former loan player Andrew Cave-Brown is backing the Linnets for promotion this season.

The 18-year-old Norwich City defender spent two months on Southern League Premier Division duty at The Walks at the turn of the year and saw enough to convince him that Lynn are worthy of a place in a higher league.

“Yes, definitely,” he said. “Andrew Fisk is there and is a good player and some of the other players they have are really good.

“They did have a blip in the middle of the season, but I think they are definitely good enough to go up. They just batter teams.

“Some of the players are good enough to play in higher leagues.”

The Linnets, under the guidance of ex-Norwich reserve team boss Keith Webb - are within a whisker of guaranteeing a play-off spot, but Cave-Brown knows that his contribution to the cause could well have repercussions further up the A47.

Canaries manager Peter Grant, concerned at the lack of serious action for his fringe players because of the paucity of reserve games, was quick to answer Webb's call with a loan spell without which the Scotland youth international would not be in the reckoning during the current injury crisis at Carrow Road.

“It has been a big thing, playing in lot of games in a different level,” said Cave-Brown. “Although there might be better players in the reserve league than there would be playing against the Tivertons and teams like that - no disrespect to them - first team football at the end of the day means something and King's Lynn are up there fighting for promotion. It was quite difficult, but really beneficial.”

Grant, who still has Fisk on loan at Lynn along with five other players spread around the Football League, confirmed that Cave-Brown would not be featuring in his plans had he not spent time at Lynn.

“Probably not, because he wouldn't have played any matches,” he said. “He has probably played two or three reserve games since he has come back. I think it is important that people realise it is important to utilise the loans. What's the use of him being around a 20-man squad and not playing a game of football?

“Week in, week out you train and you only see so much in training.”

Cave-Brown had aspirations of breaking into the first team squad early in the season, but an ankle ligament injury on his first senior start, in a Carling Cup tie at Torquay last August, put paid to those plans.

“He has worked his socks off to get back,” added Grant. “He went away to King's Lynn and got a few reserve games in as well recently, which is unusual at this club.”