Simeon Jackson epitomises one of the features of Paul Lambert's squad this season – the ability to stay patient and produce the goods when asked.

The Canadian was getting splinters from the amount of time he spent on the bench, but has hit eight goals in his last six games after finally finding the touch that Lambert always knew he had.

David Fox is another – much of his early season was spent in the dug-out, but he has held down a regular place for months now. Zak Whitbread's injury problems kept him out of the team – but once he started, his quality shone through.

'I knew what Foxy was capable of,' said Lambert, who signed the one-time Manchester United apprentice from his old club Colchester. 'I knew exactly what the lad could do. He has got that nasty habit of giving the ball to someone in a yellow shirt, which is a rare thing. A brilliant passer of the ball, no doubt, a terrific background at Manchester United, so I knew he would be fine.

'Simeon I never had a problem because I just think the lad can score goals. And the goals from League One unless I'm wrong they certainly don't shrink in size when you go up a level and the ball is still the same shape. He just needed a bit of time, and the way he is playing at the minute and his goalscoring form is excellent, so I never had any worry. It was just a matter of time before hopefully they came good.

'With Zak it is the same as with Foxy and Simeon. I knew. I saw him playing a few times and I always thought he was a good one and he is a rare breed, a left-footed centre-back, there aren't many around.'

Jackson scored 14 goals for Gillingham last season before making the move to Carrow Road, where he faced the unenviable challenge of getting past Grant Holt and Chris Martin.

His first 32 appearances, many of them from the bench, yielded just four goals, but in recent games he has been electric. A hat-trick in the 6-0 home demolition of Scunthorpe in April was followed by goals at Watford and Ipswich, when he finally started up front alongside Holt. His pace left the Tractorboys for dead and his tally rose to eight when he struck three times against Derby on Monday, including that late winner.

'I thought we needed a bit of speed up there and he provides that,' said Lambert.