Graham Dorrans plans to make up for lost time after his toughest season yet – and he’s got three games to do it in, following his opening salvo in Norwich City’s win at Preston

All smiles after Graham Dorrans had fired the Canaries into a 28th minute lead at Deepdale. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: �Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

Smiles have been in short supply for Norwich City's traveling support but Easter Monday was one of the good days, as Preston were dispatched at Deepdale.

Dorrans set things in motion with only his second goal of the campaign, in what was his second start of 2017 – underlining the midfielder's injury woes since a nasty Boxing Day tackle took him out of action.

Only three Championship games remain, and Dorrans plans to make the most it.

'It's difficult when you're going into training every day and the boys are going out, while you're stuck in the gym,' admitted the Scot. 'I'm professional enough to know you need to keep working hard and strengthening things that have gone wrong over the course of the season, and I did that with the medical staff and the fitness guys have been great with me.

'It's about getting match fitness back and there are only three games left, so hopefully I can play in them. It's been disappointing for me over the whole season but hopefully I can complete the 90 minutes in those too.

'In terms of injuries it's been the worst season of my career so far. I've never had to sit out this long, but injuries are things you can't do anything about. I'm just delighted to get back in and get 90 minutes under my belt.'

At least Dorrans got to sample something many of his team-mates who had stayed fit hadn't tasted much either in his absence.

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'We spoke before the game about people questioning our away record and obviously it hasn't been good enough, but we know as a group that we are good enough to correct that and thankfully we've done that here,' said Dorrans.

'We've put in a performance that was worthy of the fans that came to watch it.

'It was good to share it with the fans. This is a difficult place to come and we said before the game they've not lost here since the turn of the year. I thought we played really well and we deserved all three points.'

As for his goal, Dorrans added: 'My shot took a little nick but as soon as I saw it going in, I was delighted. Personally for me it's great – but I think just getting back and getting 90 minutes under my belt was the main thing.'

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