Former Norwich City striker Cody McDonald admits he is playing catch up after a winning start to his first taste of Championship football with Coventry.

The 25-year-old completed a move to the Ricoh on transfer deadline day after a successful season-long loan stint at League Two Gillingham last season.

McDonald played 76 minutes in Coventry's first league win of the new season, a 2-0 victory over Midlands rivals Derby in front of the Sky television cameras on Saturday afternoon..

He believes his move to the Sky Blues provides him with the perfect platform to prove he can maintain his prolific scoring form higher up the Football League pecking order after plundering 25 goals for the Gills.

The ex-Dartford striker admitted it had been tough after playing no part in the Canaries' own march to the Premier League last season or City's summer build up.

'It was great to get the opportunity to play,' he said. 'It was a big game for us in front of the cameras. The boys performed as a team and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win. I haven't played for the past four months.

'It has been difficult for me but I am glad now I have found a club where I can settle down and hopefully get some minutes under my belt.

Everyone knows it feels so much better on the back end of a win and I thought the boys thoroughly deserved the win.

McDonald is confident he can handle the goalscoring burden following his exploits at Gillingham.

'You have to live up to that because if you can't handle the pressure at this level then I don't think you should be there,' he said. 'It's something that I thoroughly enjoyed at Gillingham and I scored a few goals and hopefully I can bring that here as well. The manager has been brilliant. All the coaches and the lads have made me feel so welcome. To come and play at this stadium is something else and you can't let these sort of opportunities slip through your fingers because they only come around so often. That is why I want to make the most of it.'