CHRIS LAKEY Darren Huckerby says it is up to the players to win over angry fans before the Canaries crisis deepens - and warns supporters not to rely on the January transfer window to get City out of jail.

CHRIS LAKEY

Darren Huckerby says it is up to the players to win over angry fans before the Canaries crisis deepens - and warns supporters not to rely on the January transfer window to get City out of jail.

The Canaries were given a Boxing Day roasting by their own crowd after a 0-0 draw against bottom side Southend, a result which stretched their run without a win to five games.

Huckerby admits the only way to win them back is to take all three points in the final game of 2006, against QPR on Saturday - and says it would be foolhardy to assume that an influx of new blood is going to solve all the problems.

The transfer window may be just four days away, but with a tight budget, manager Peter Grant is expected to be dipping into the bargain bucket, rather than the top end of the market.

“We know we have got to improve, but it is not like we have a magic wand,” said Huckerby. “If there is not loads of money to go and buy players then what we have got is what we have got - and we have to turn it around.

“We have got probably the smallest squad in the league so we need players from somewhere, but if the money's not available we can't buy players - so we are going to have to use what we have got.”

There is clearly concern among fans over just how Grant plans to change a side that sits in an uncomfortable 17th place in the table - just five places above the last relegation place.

And while Huckerby welcomes the immediate opportunity to right a few wrongs this weekend, he has warned against an instant reversal of fortunes given the financial restrictions.

“We have got to stick together,” said the City striker. “You could see everyone was edgy - the fans were edgy 20 minutes in.

“We have to get the fans back onside and start winning games, that's the only way.

“It is not great, but we are the only ones who can change it and it is up to us to turn it around.”

“No-one wants to be booed by their own fans, but it is not like we have 15 players waiting to come in, because we haven't.

“We have a small squad and a couple of injuries - like Adam Drury's injury just before the game - can mess it up.”