Former Ipswich player Alan Lee will be able to win over City fans because of his willingness to "run through brick walls", according to Bryan Gunn. More than a few eyebrows were raised when Lee joined City from Crystal Palace on a loan deal to the end of the season, simply because of his cross-border connections.

Former Ipswich player Alan Lee will be able to win over City fans because of his willingness to "run through brick walls", according to Bryan Gunn.

More than a few eyebrows were raised when Lee joined City from Crystal Palace on a loan deal to the end of the season, simply because of his cross-border connections.

The striker could well have been playing against the Canaries today - the last time he did that at Carrow Road he scored - but turned down a move to Sheffield Wednesday in preference for a more cathartic test of his spirit at Norwich.

And it's that attitude which Gunn believes will make him a crowd favourite.

"I would certainly rather have Alan Lee in my team than come up against him," said Gunn, who gave the Irishman his debut in the 1-1 draw at Birmingham two weeks ago.

"I know a lot of people questioned the Ipswich connection, but he nailed his colours to the mast he wanted to be representing and hopefully with six games to go we will see a lot more of what we saw against Birmingham.

"We've been working with the big man's fitness this week. I think he got his first bout of cramp on the hour mark (at Birmingham) but he didn't want to come off and that's the sort of commitment that we need from players in these last six games, running through the proverbial brick wall for you.

"Supporters see that and they will be happy, no matter what club you've played for in the past."

Lee, like so many others, is here to end of the season - and that's when Gunn will reveal what is happening to players out of contract, like Lee Croft and Mark Fotheringham.

"We need to really focus on one job," said Gunn. "We are talking to different people behind the scenes so discussions will go on, but it's not anything we will make public until we know which direction we will be going in next season."