Darren Huckerby believes that heads will roll if the Canaries do not perform this season and live up to the expectation that surrounds one of the Championship's promotion hopefuls.

Darren Huckerby believes that heads will roll if the Canaries do not perform this season and live up to the expectation that surrounds one of the Championship's promotion hopefuls.

Much of the vitriol from last season's failed campaign still remains and Huckerby is desperate to get off to a good start come August 5 at Elland Road to dispel the anger - the first five games are make or break.

“All I can say is give us a go. It's not just the gaffer, it's all of us. Give us a go to try and put things right, if not then things will have to be changed. Let's not beat around the bush - if things don't improve then all of us might be looking elsewhere. Just give us a chance to turn it around and if it does not work then changes will have to be made as that's how it happens in the world.”

Under-pressure manager Nigel Worthington has the full backing of his star player, but Huckerby admits there were times last season when things got a little bit fraught.

Huckerby added: “I think that if I had turned away and not backed the manager then it could have snowballed even further out of control. There are times when players are not happy with the manager all of the time. There were certainly times like when I didn't play against Ipswich that I wasn't happy. It was the biggest game of the season live on TV.

“At the time I wasn't happy but we are in a professional sport and sometimes that happens. It's not the first time and might not be the last. I've never fallen out with a manager that I have got to know over a number of years like Nigel.

“I don't think he should have taken as much stick as he did, to be honest. It's got to go down to the players. He picks the team and buys the players and has a massive contribution in that sense, but it's the players, if they are good enough, who should be able to do what he is asking.

“It goes both ways but he is always going to bear the brunt of the criticism as he is the manager.”

t To read the full Huckerby interview see the Canary Preview magazine, which hit the shops this Friday.