David Cuffley Striker David Mooney is undaunted by the prospect of another Norwich City full house tomorrow as he bids to keep up his Carrow Road goal run. The 24-year-old Irishman has shown no sign of nerves on the big stage and has scored in both his home appearances for the Canaries, the 2-0 win over Cardiff and the 1-0 success against Plymouth, to boost his side's survival chances.

David Cuffley

Striker David Mooney is undaunted by the prospect of another Norwich City full house tomorrow as he bids to keep up his Carrow Road goal run.

The 24-year-old Irishman has shown no sign of nerves on the big stage and has scored in both his home appearances for the Canaries, the 2-0 win over Cardiff and the 1-0 success against Plymouth, to boost his side's survival chances.

But Mooney, whose loan from Reading is set to be extended to the end of the season, has been staggered by the size of the crowds for a team in the bottom six of the Championship.

With tomorrow's visit of Sheffield Wednesday (3pm) completely sold out, he said: “It's unbelievable - the support down here is frightening. When I was at Reading they were getting 18,000 and they were near the top of the Championship. You come here, we're down the bottom and there is 25,000 week in, week out. It's just amazing.”

But with so little first team football under his belt this season, Mooney has no apprehension about running out in front of packed crowds. Instead he is relishing life in his new surroundings.

He said: “I don't really get nervous. I just enjoy playing football. I've come from a club where I haven't played, so to be given the chance to play, the adrenalin is just running through me every day in training. Knowing that you're going to be involved in the game is the most important thing.

“As long as the crowds are backing you, not caning you, that's the most important thing.

“I always knew I could play at this level. It's just about being given a chance and luckily enough the gaffer here has done that and I've repaid his faith.”

Manager Bryan Gunn believes his loan contingent are the type of players City will need next season, but Mooney admits he has no idea what the summer will bring.

He said: “I have two years left at Reading so the ball is in their court. If they go up, maybe I'll be surplus to requirements but I want to try to play as high as I can and if Reading get into the Premier League and they want to keep me, I've got to stay there.”

With six games left, Mooney can play only five as he will not be able to face Reading in City's last home game on April 27.

He said: “The important thing is trying to do well for five games here if all goes well, so that's the main thing - and keeping Norwich in the Championship.

“I've seen Sheffield Wednesday once this season when Reading beat them 6-0 so maybe that wasn't the best game to be judging them. But they're a decent side and they've got some good players and a really good manager.”

Mooney is likely to be partnered again by fellow Irishman Alan Lee in attack tomorrow and appreciates having a minder.

He said: “He's a bit of a brute and he doesn't mind taking the hits so, as you've seen on the Championship highlights he doesn't mind throwing an elbow or two. He's a good player and a good lad so he's fitting in really well.

“It takes a bit of the pressure off me so I'll take that all day, but it was great playing with Alan Gow as well, so whichever partnership plays tomorrow, I'm sure it will be decent.”

Gow could be set for a wide role again with Gunn waiting to see how winger Lee Croft reacts to his first training session since missing the 1-1 draw at Birmingham two weeks ago with an ankle ligament strain. He will also be keeping his fingers crossed that the quartet on international duty are none the worse after spending much of the break with their national teams. Australian winger David Carney, who played at Birmingham, was due back later today after the long flight from Sydney.

Gunn is not concerned by the fact City have lost their last seven matches against the Owls.

He said: “It's my first game against them as a manager and we'll look at it that way. I think the positive side is we've got an opportunity to right that bad run.

“But I don't think it will be an easy game at all, just because of the fact that they're mid-table. I remember Brian Laws as a player. He was very competitive and he's very competitive as a manager as well, so I expect a tough game.”