Chris Lakey Veteran striker Dion Dublin has confirmed that he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season.The 38-year-old striker had to think long and hard last summer before deciding to stay with the Canaries for another season.

Chris Lakey

Veteran striker Dion Dublin has confirmed that he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old striker had to think long and hard last summer before deciding to stay with the Canaries for another season.

But the decision on what to do one year on has now been made - and Dublin will leave the game after a professional career which has spanned two decades, more than 700 games and a goal tally which currently stands at 231.

“My body needs a rest,” said Dublin, who earlier this season admitted he was undecided over his future. “It has been a long time.”

Dublin's decision comes just a week after Canaries boss Glenn Roeder, one of his biggest admirers, said he would like to see him play on next season - but the physical requirements have finally taken their toll on Dublin, who once broke his neck during a game.

“What people don't realise is it takes me 40, 45 minutes to get myself ready for training and then start the warm-ups,” said Dublin, back at the club where his career began in 1985 after he had left school.

“Even on match days it is the same thing; the physios are doing their best to get me going, they are giving me all the things that I need to wear and to use and it is just physically hard to do it.

“Mentally I am fine, physically it takes longer.

“It is important to go out fit and healthy - I don't want the game to retire me. I want to retire when I am ready to retire.

“Touch wood, things have been okay and I feel fit and I want to go out of the game walking and not another way.”

Dublin is in a purple patch of form, scoring in each of his last two games to take his tally to six in 15 league and cup starts this season - and even though he is one of the oldest players plying his trade in English football, his departure will be a big loss for City.

A career in the media now seems the most likely route for Dublin - although the player himself says he has plenty to squeeze in before the end of the season.

“It is not over yet,” he said “I have a good four months to go. The fans have been very good to me. The people of Norwich have been great, the place is great, the club is fantastic - I just enjoy myself really.”

It's business as usual this afternoon, although the visit of Dublin's hometown club, Leicester, adds a little spice to his weekend.

hometown club, Leicester.

“I was bore in Leicester so it is always special,” he said. “The fans are superb, normally, towards me - that might change tomorrow - but they will have a big following, a big strong squad wanting to beat Norwich in their own back garden.

“It is up to Norwich not to let that happen, but we know it is going to be difficult, it will be a head to head battle. If you stand toe to toe with your man and do your job you will have a chance.

“If we play our best and they play their best it will be a very even game.”

Dublin is adamant there will be a positive response to the midweek FA Cup humiliation at League Two strugglers Bury.

“Tuesday was disgusting and woeful and terrible and embarrassing and we will get one most definitely,” he said.

“We know Leicester will be a big hurdle to get over but there aren't any small hurdles in this league. We are looking forward to the challenge.

“We know we have to go out there is a positive mind, go to where we were when we went nine or 10 games unbeaten. If there is a pass to be played, try and play it, don't play safe. That's what we did against Bury, we played safe football, which is boring football. It is not attractive, it is not aggressive, it is horrible to watch and as a Norwich fan watching that they would have known that and as a player watching from the bench I know it and I could see it and it was horrible to watch.”