CHRIS LAKEY Canaries new boy Jamie Cureton says he is fighting to earn a place in Peter Grant's first teamThe Championship's Golden Boot winner looks set to partner Czech David Strihavka in City's front-line when the season opens on August 11 - but says there are no guarantees in a squad which has at least half a dozen attacking options.

CHRIS LAKEY

By CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries new boy Jamie Cureton says he is fighting to earn a place in Peter Grant's first team

The Championship's Golden Boot winner looks set to partner Czech David Strihavka in City's front-line when the season opens on August 11 - but says there are no guarantees in a squad which has at least half a dozen attacking options.

“I just have to do my bit and make sure I stay in the team to be honest and be one of the two, whoever it might be,” said Cureton, before jetting off to Holland yesterday.

“There are a few to choose from, everyone is fighting for a place and I just want to be amongst that. I am going to keep my head down, keep working hard and hope to be in the first XI come the start of the season.”

“For me it is obviously learning how different people play. I am used to a different style of football so I have to get used to certain styles. I just want to keep playing now, get the fitness in, get the minutes under the belt and hopefully get some goals and keep building until the start of the season.”

Strihavka-Cureton is the most likely choice - and the one which started the friendly at Exeter on Saturday and played the whole 90 minutes at King's Lynn on Tuesday - but Grant also has Chris Martin, Chris Brown, Dion Dublin, Ryan Jarvis and teenager Kris Renton, while he may also choose to repeat the successes of last season by moving Darren Huckerby in from the left flank.

The fledgling partnership - which produced a brace at The Walks - has shown a few signs of sparking into life.

“He is a different type of player and for a big lad he likes everything in to feet,” said Cureton, who joined City from Colchester on the day that Robert Earnshaw left for Derby County.

“He has great ability - obviously communication is a bit tough at first but I am sure you work up understandings. The manager is going to look at different partnerships and see which ones is the best.”

Cureton left the pitch after his 45-minute run-out shaking his head, having failed to find the back of the net on his return to Canaries colours for the first time in more than a decade.

“It was really good, I'm just disappointed with the result,” he said. “On a personal level it is nice to be back in the team after 10 or 11 years, so that was pleasing, but disappointing I didn't score. I felt pretty sharp and as the half wore on I felt I was getting into the game. I felt good and I was disappointed to come off.

“I wanted to stay on and keep going, but we want to get the fitness under our belts and the gaffer wants to change things around.

“But I am one of these that hates it, I want to play every minute, no matter what the game - friendlies, anything, I want to play all the time and I think with the chances I had I felt I was getting more into the game and that more chances would come.

“But it was nice to be putting the yellow and green on again and I am sure I will get better as each game goes.

“It is a case of putting yourself in the frame - we all know now each game is vital for the manager to make his decision come August 11 - we all want to play, we all want to just keep going and we keep looking forward to every game now.”