Adam Drury will run out for his testimonial match against Celtic on Tuesday night (7.45pm) with the cheers of the crowd and praise from colleagues old and new ringing in his ears.

Drury has been a loyal Norwich City servant for 11 years and his reward comes when a City XI - including Canaries legend Darren Huckerby - takes on one of manager Paul Lambert's former clubs.

Huckerby said: 'He is one of those lads who would stick his face in the way of a tackle for you – that is something you can't instil in people. Some people have it, some don't but Ads has definitely got that it – that's why he has lost all his front teeth.

'Adam Drury isn't the sort of guy who lets you down.'

Drury was captain when City, under Nigel Worthington, stormed to the old First Division title in 2004, and fellow defender Craig Fleming describes him as 'a real credit' to the club.

Worthington paid Peterborough United �300,0000 for Drury's services.

'I signed him because I thought he had the all round package as a good professional,' Worthington said. 'He was young, promising, up and coming at Peterborough and was an excellent professional within the club, a model professional outside of the club.

'He was never an issue for the manager or for the football club. He had everything as a good professional has. For �300,000 it was even then a snip.'

Canaries goalkeeper John Ruddy said: 'Certainly in the two years I have been here he has been exceptional and he is one of the best defenders, if not the best defender, I have ever played with.

'So the least people can do is turn out for his game, and if you haven't got a ticket then go buy one.'

Tickets for the testimonial are on general sale: go to www.canaries.co.uk, call 0844 826 1902 or visit the ticket office at Carrow Road or the Canary Store in The Mall Norwich.

Full feature: Tuesday's Eastern Daily Press