Grant Holt embodies everything positive about Norwich City football club, according to his manager Paul Lambert.

The Norwich chief, along with assistant Ian Culverhouse, had both delivered the same pre-match mantra after Holt's rare 90-minute outing for the reserves in a midweek Carrow Road fixture against Aston Villa.

Holt, along with the rest of City's senior men currently on the fringes of the first team at present, will get their chance to impress over a long and arduous Premier League season. Holt's came quicker than most – and Norwich's lucky charm responded with a trademark header to earn a battling point on his 100th City appearance.

'He has been a massive member of what this football club has achieved in the past two years,' said Lambert. 'His goal ratio is phenomenal. He is a big figure with the fans and the players, but I think Grant would be the first to tell you it is a team game and everyone in the squad has to pull their weight. The game is all about players. I don't have favourites or preferences. They are the most important people at the club. Grant came on and I think it was an absolutely fantastic header.

'He had another one at the back and I thought him and (Steve) Morison were an absolute handful. Fantastic teams have come here and got turned over before us so I am delighted with how we have been playing. I never get too up, I never get too down, but we are certainly a match for teams at the minute.'

Holt entered the fray just before the hour mark for Elliott Bennett.

'Benno has been brilliant for me. We just thought we needed someone else up top to try and hurt Liverpool a little bit,' said Lambert. 'I thought Morison was brilliant again in his game and Grant took a bit of pressure off him with the physical side of it and the header was a terrific header.

'I know the disappointment people can suffer when they don't play, but I need everybody to drive it the same way to have a chance. If it starts to break then it becomes a problem, but every player at the football club is going the same way at the minute.'