Chris LakeyGrant Holt will miss the final two games of the season - to enable him to hit the ground running when Norwich City open their Championship campaign. With promotion secured, Holt's scheduled date with the surgeon to clean up a long standing ankle problem was brought forward.Chris Lakey

Grant Holt will miss the final two games of the season - to enable him to hit the ground running when Norwich City open their Championship campaign.

With promotion secured, Holt's scheduled date with the surgeon to clean up a long standing ankle problem was brought forward.

The 30-goal marksman went under the knife in London but while he will play no part in the game at Bristol Rovers tomorrow or Carlisle at Carrow Road a week later, he will still be fit enough to receive the League One trophy in front of his home fans.

'He got it done and he's fine and he will be back for pre-season,' confirmed City boss Paul Lambert yesterday.

'It gives him a longer time to recover. That's why we've done it before the season finished - it gives him time.'

Holt's problem has been with him all season, but these will be the first league matches he has missed through injury; his five absences have been through suspension.

However, Lambert paid tribute to his skipper's resilience.

'There were times in training when you saw him, but he just battled on and got on with it, so we knew we had to get him through games and he did it and he has been brilliant,' he said.

'So now was the time for him to go and get it done.'

While Holt will watch from the sidelines, he will be at Carrow Road on May 8, when City receive their reward for their dominance of League One.

'He'll be there with the rest of the group,' said Lambert. 'He's the captain of the club and normally the captain does the honours, but on that given day they all deserve to get the accolades that come their way.'

While Holt sits it out, City fans are expected to welcome a returning hero, with Wes Hoolahan set to put in an appearance before the curtain comes down.

Hoolahan has missed the last five games since suffering a torn thigh muscle in the Good Friday defeat at Tranmere, but Lambert promised yesterday that he would return: the only question is when.

'He's doing fine,' said Lambert. 'We will certainly see him before the end of the season I think. Whether it's this one or the next one, he will be back.'

Russell Martin is unlikely to be in the party that leaves for west country this morning, having missed the title-clinching win over Gillingham last weekend with an ankle injury.