Cody McDonald is looking to repay faith

Norwich back-up striker Cody McDonald aims to repay Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler for offering him a first team chance.

McDonald is yet to get off the mark for the League Two club since agreeing to a season long loan switch as part of the move that saw Simeon Jackson arrive at Carrow Road in the summer.

The 24-year-old has been restricted by a niggling ankle problem but passed a fitness test to feature in the recent 2-0 home win over leaders Shrewsbury that McDonald believes proved the Gills can mix it at the top end of the division.

'As a team performance it was solid, but we're not going to get carried away with this one result,' he said. 'I've felt we've played well in the past but not quite got the results.

'We were disappointed with last week (against Bury). We didn't perform as well as we could and to score four goals and still lose is obviously disappointing for any team and manager but on Saturday we looked a threat every time we went forward, we created chances and looked defensively solid. We need to move on from this and start moving up that table.

'I got through and felt fine but I'll have to manage my ankle in the next couple of days to make sure there is no reaction. He's (Hessenthaler) put a lot of faith in me, I hope I can repay him and I'm confident I can do.'

McDonald's new club remain a point off the bottom after following up that impressive win over Shrewsbury with a stoppage time weekend defeat to Bradford.

'We won't lose confidence just because of this one game,' said Hessenthaler. 'We know what we've got to work on. It's a kick in the teeth, but we've got to bounce back. We go back with our tails between our legs. We're gutted, but we have to win our next two homes games.'