Chris Martin is the real deal for Norwich City boss Neil Adams.

The Canaries' academy graduate will spearhead Derby County's frontline in Saturday's Championship reunion against the club that nurtured him from the age of 10.

The 26-year-old's Carrow Road career stalled after playing a key part in City's 2010 League One title success but Martin has emerged as one of the Championship's most potent strikers and become a Scottish international since his exit.

'He has done really well has Chris. We had him here as a youngster and we brought him through into the first team, but he has just matured and developed his game now to the level he is at,' said Adams. 'He scored goals for fun while he was here in our first team and he has carried that on. He is strong, he links the play well and he is a focal point for them. The fact he has played up top on his own for Derby for so long shows you how much faith they have him in.

'Occasionally they have given him a partner but he has scored a lot of goals working that role up top on his own.'

Adams knows the scale of the task this weekend against a Championship promotion rival after his spying mission to watch the Rams' midweek Capital One Cup exit to Chelsea.

'I went there on Wednesday and they have some good players but they also have their weaknesses,' he said. 'Obviously we are confident after our last two games but we know it will be a really tough match. We have to maintain our standards from the second, half last week but it will be two good teams on show.'