Should Norwich City’s Gary O’Neil keep wearing the bandage?

Chelsea's Willian (left) lies on the ground as Norwich City's Robbie Brady (centre) and Gary O'Neil clash. O'Neil has needed a head bandage ever since. (Image: PA Wire)

The bandage has been wrapped around O'Neil's head ever since a crunching collision with team-mate Robbie Brady during the home defeat by Chelsea on March 1.

The pain was there for all to see, as evidenced by O'Neil running out for the last four games still wearing the bandage.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but the bang on the head has coincided with an upturn in form that has raised the spirits in the City camp. So will it stay? Does it need to stay?

'No – I'm not superstitious so I won't wear it for that, but I know everyone wants me to,' he smiled.

'I will just wear it until it stops hurting when I head it.'

The answer may well come at Crystal Palace on Saturday when City will continue their attempts at trying to deliver what O'Neil believes his team-mates' attitude and honesty deserve – Premier League survival.

Never were those qualities more evident than at the final whistle of Saturday's epic injury-time victory over top-flight relegation rivals Newcastle United.

For all the good work of that win, Norwich still need to repeat the feat more than once over their remaining six games.

'We've got a great group, a very honest group, and you'll get absolutely everything – although sometimes it might not look like it from the outside' said O'Neil.

'But there will never be a lack of effort or leadership in this group because everyone is desperate to do well for everybody. 'It's nice to be a part of and I just hope we get what the attitude and the effort the lads put in day in, day out, deserves.'

For O'Neil, that battle remains primarily between the Canaries and their two North East rivals, despite the chance to draw level on points with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

'I'd have classed Palace as out of it three weeks ago,' he added. 'In my head I was thinking we would need to finish top of this league with the two North East clubs. I thought it was purely us three once we lost at Swansea; two down from the three.

'So the fact Palace are still in there a little doesn't really make any difference. Obviously they are there to chase and if we go there and win, it drags them right into it.

'But it will be a tough game. They have got good players and I'm surprised they are where they are, with how they started and with the attacking, wide players they have got and Yohan Cabaye.

'It'll be a tough afternoon but we'll go there in good spirits on the form we're in.'