Tom Adeyemi out to topple Leeds

Tom Adeyemi admits Norwich City are aiming to finish above Leeds come May, as they prepare for arguably their toughest test of the season.

The Canaries can close the gap to five points on the League One leaders with a win at Elland Road in front of the Sky TV cameras on Monday night.

And although City have won their last four games in all competitions, losing just twice in 12 under Paul Lambert, Academy product Adeyemi believes Monday's trip to West Yorkshire will be as tough as it gets for Norwich City this season.

He said: “I think they are the games you look at and think they're the ones, the massive games where you just want to do as well as you can in them, because they are the teams that are going to finish near the top towards the end - and the teams we want to be above come the end of the season.

“We feel, now we've got that momentum going, we can keep it going and we can go into every game and win. But we know it's going to be difficult, especially at Leeds.

“It's going to be a hard game and a real tough one, but if we can win it, that will just keep the momentum going. I think, come the end of the season, we want to be up there, right up there, and hopefully above them.”

Only Leeds have averaged higher attendances than Norwich in League One this season, and after enjoying several run outs with the backing of 25,000 fans at Carrow Road, Monday night is set to give Adeyemi a slightly different taste of playing in front of a bumper crowd thanks to Elland Road's hostile support.

“It'll be a different experience because the only big crowd I've played in front of is the one at Carrow Road, and that's where everyone is getting behind you - but to be in front of a big crowd where everyone is against you might be different, so it could be interesting,” said Adeyemi, who is not about to run scared of any stick.

“I enjoy it. I remember when I was warming up I was getting a bit of stick at the weekend, and I just enjoy it because it makes me feel I want to go out and prove these people wrong.”

Speaking at the launch of this season's Norwich City Football in the Community Kickz programme at Norfolk FA's new Football Development Centre, in Bowthorpe, Adeyemi feels Saturday's 1-0 win at Carlisle was the kind league success is built on.

“I think if you want to do well in the league, they are the ones you've got to win - maybe when you're not playing so well, things are going against you and you can just grind out that result,” said Adeyemi, who celebrates his 18th birthday next Saturday.

“It was a very long trip on the way down, but it was alright, and then obviously on the way back it didn't seem so long because we had won and got the three points, and everyone was happy.”

After the victory at Brunton Park, City boss Lambert was keen to deflect praise for his side's recent change in fortunes onto his players, but Adeyemi believes the Canaries' winning streak also has a lot to do with the man in charge.

He said: “He's really good; I think everyone knows what he expects of them, he tells people exactly what he wants, and if you deliver, then you'll stay in the team. I think it's good that you know exactly where you are.

“He gets involved with everything, in training and then things off the field as well, so he's a good manager. And he makes sure that when people do well or we do well as a team, he lets us know and tells us how well we've been doing.

“Obviously that keeps the confidence high and is probably one of the reasons we've been winning.”

On a personal note, boyhood City fan Adeyemi is thoroughly enjoying his involvement with the first team - and hopes it will continue until the summer, at least.

“It's been good,” said Adeyemi. “My aim at the start of the season was to just keep involved with the first team for the whole year, and so far I've done that. I've been in pretty much every squad, so I want to continue that if I can.”