Burton could be back to haunt Norwich City

Norwich City could come face to face with arch nemesis Deon Burton at League One rivals Charlton this weekend.

The Addicks' top scorer is winning his race to be fit to spearhead Charlton's promotion push, having being sidelined with a knee injury since late March.

Burton needs little introduction to the Canaries' faithful after last season's final day hat-trick in south London helped consign City to the drop. The experienced striker struck twice inside five first half minutes to effectively seal Norwich's Championship relegation alongside the Addicks.

Burton also plundered a final day brace for previous employers Sheffield Wednesday 12 months earlier to sour Dion Dublin's swansong in a 4-1 Hillsborough defeat.

Now Addicks' boss Phil Parkinson is ready to unleash the fit-again striker against Paul Lambert's table toppers, with Charlton only three points behind second-placed Leeds ahead of Norwich's weekend visit.

"Deon should be fit by Saturday, and that adds another bit of competition," said Parkinson, with former City favourite Leon McKenzie just back in light training after a torn thigh muscle. "He hasn't joined in with a great deal of football but in terms of running he has done a lot, so I'm pleased where he is in terms of fitness. Obviously I don't want to reveal the team but anybody in any league who loses their top scorer, you know it's going to be a bonus when you get him back and you know he comes back refreshed into the group ready to challenge for his place."

Parkinson revealed Charlton will look to test any flaws in the Canaries' collective psyche from back-to-back away league defeats.

"The title is definitely theirs to lose," he said. "I think most of us in the division have taken it for granted they were going to go up and we were fighting for the second spot and the play-off spots. Obviously the recent results haven't gone great for them but at this moment in time we'd say it's there for them.

"I don't think any team like to drop points two games in a row. Will there be a reaction or will that make them edgy the fact they've lost - who knows? All will be revealed come three o'clock on Saturday but we've just got to make sure we follow up with the way we've been playing lately ourselves."

Parkinson guided Colchester to automatic promotion from League One in 2006 and knows exactly what Lambert's squad are going through as the finish line draws ever closer.

"If Norwich are going to go up then we will make it as difficult for them as possible and we can control that on Saturday by getting a result," he said. "Let's get them edgy, let's make them a bit nervous because in the last couple of months it has been plain sailing for them, so it will be good if we can put them under a bit of pressure on Saturday.

"I think they'll be looking over their shoulders anyway. I've been in that position as a player before when you're there and for everyone else it looks like an unassailable lead but for you as a manager you don't actually know. History will tell you it's not over until it's over and strange things can happen but they're in the box seat, there is no doubt about that."

Parkinson insists the Addicks can gatecrash the automatic slots on the back of an impressive recent run.

"We're aiming for the top two and if we can go into our last game of the season with a chance, that will be good news for us," he said. "We've got to make sure we get in the play-offs first. There was a time a couple of months ago where we were in danger of slipping out, but we've put together a good run since then. We probably need another win to guarantee that place, but we've given ourselves a good opportunity."