David Cuffley Striker Carl Cort today looked forward to the rest of the season with Norwich City and admitted: “I haven't felt this excited in years.”The 31-year-old former Wimbledon, Newcastle and Wolves forward has signed for the Canaries for the remainder of the campaign and, subject to international clearance, could be in the squad for tomorrow night's Championship trip to Watford.

David Cuffley

Striker Carl Cort today looked forward to the rest of the season with Norwich City and admitted: “I haven't felt this excited in years.”

The 31-year-old former Wimbledon, Newcastle and Wolves forward has signed for the Canaries for the remainder of the campaign and, subject to international clearance, could be in the squad for tomorrow night's Championship trip to Watford.

Cort's last competitive game in England came in Leicester's 2-0 defeat at Hull, exactly 12 months ago next weekend. Since then he has had a short spell in Spain with UD Marbella.

Manager Glenn Roeder admitted he was taking a “calculated gamble” after watching Cort in training for two weeks with City, but he said: “He has looked good in training. The knee has not given him any problem after training.

“He seems a terrific guy, terrific personality and is desperate to play football again.”

Cort said: “It's a fantastic feeling. It's been a long time and it's been a strange few months for me in terms of the injuries I've had and the situations I've been through.

“I'm delighted and I'm just looking forward to cracking on.

“This time last year I was considering calling it a day because I've had a series of problems with my knee for several years.

“I think it got to a point where I don't think anyone understood how bad the situation was.”

Cort then teamed up with top physiotherapist John Green, who helped rehabilitate Michael Owen and Kieron Dyer after serious injuries.

He said: “Recently I've been seeing someone who has been very focused and very positive towards my knee and so far, so good.

“It got to the point where I was bouncing from club to club and not really getting any success there due to the fact my knee was playing up but I took a couple of months out and have given it one more chance. I got put through to this guy, who has done a fantastic job, not just physically but mentally as well.

“In the last three and a half months I've been feeling better than for the last several years.

“I consider myself fit but there's no substitute for match fitness and that will come. I spoke to the gaffer and he's been very good with me. With his experience he's going to gradually bring me in slowly.

“I haven't felt this excited in years. It feels like making your debut in a sense.”

The former England Under-21 international started his career at Wimbledon and played there from 1996 to 2000, scoring 25 goals in 93 appearances in all competitions.

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson paid £7 million for Cort in the summer of 2000. He scored on his home debut at St James' Park against Derby County but suffered hamstring problems and underwent surgery after only a few appearances. He eventually returned to the first team in March 2001, and went on to score five goals in 10 appearances before the season ended.

He moved to Molineux for £2 million in January 2004 and on to Leicester in June 2007. He scored his only goal for the Foxes at Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carling Cup in October last year.

Cort has been given City's squad number 29.