Brown - Canaries can expect an onslaught

Former Norwich striker Chris Brown is warning the Canaries to expect on onslaught at Preston's home fortress in Saturday's Championship trip to Deepdale.

Only title-chasing Reading have won more league games on home turf this season and Preston hitman Brown admits North End's own play-off push depends on maintaining that hot streak.

“We've beaten a lot of good teams here and teams have started to come down, get men behind the ball and settle for a point, which they would,” he said. “They come to make it difficult for us. It is in our own hands now. We've got that sixth spot and now we have got to carry on going the way we are and winning our home games.”

Brown's joy at Preston's success has been somewhat tempered by his own struggles with recurring injury that limited his Carrow Road spell to just 24 senior appearances.

“The lads have been doing really well up here,” said Brown. “I haven't played for six weeks but I can't have any complaints. The guys have been playing really well and picking up results, so I've just got to be patient and wait for my chance. I was injured for the first few months of the season then came back and played, but I haven't started a game since December.

“I've got a nerve problem, I've had it all my career. When I first signed here I thought I'd cracked it. I felt great and was able to run for 90 minutes, which I couldn't do at either Sunderland or Norwich.

“But it came back and it feels like a real kick in the teeth, but I can play and train with it. I've had my ups and downs with it and now it's just a case of managing it and hoping it goes away in time. I'm back training and available for selection.”

Brown is backing new Norwich chief Bryan Gunn to turnaround the Canaries' fortunes.

“It is a surprise Norwich are down they but I am sure they have got enough to get out of trouble,” he said. “Since Bryan's come in they look a lot more organised and it is going to be a difficult game. Norwich are fighting for their lives, which makes it even more difficult for us and we have got to be at our best. He was brilliant when I was there. I was out of the team at the end of my time there, but Bryan was always encouraging us, all of the players, trying to keep us upbeat. I am delighted he got the job and the lads are as well, they're loving it up there.

“I speak to a fair few of them and they're saying how they're loving training and it's a really good place to at the moment. There have obviously already been ups and downs, even in the time Bryan has been in charge, but I hear it is a lot more relaxed down there now and everyone is pulling in the right direction. It'll be good to see them on Saturday. I made some good friends down there and I wish them well.”

Brown admitted Glenn Roeder's exit came as little surprise in the wake of City's Championship struggles.

“The question is how long do you leave it?” he said. “The lads were in and around the bottom three all of the season. A lot of managers don't get a lot of time but I would like to think, with Bryan coming in, they will move up the league. They've got some really good players and Glenn also found some very good players to bring in, despite a lack of funds compared to some clubs, but there are a lot of good teams down there so it's going to be a dog fight.”