Chris Lakey Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was pushed straight into the deep end on Saturday - and spent the build-up trying to learn his new team-mates' names. Forster was drafted in on a one-month emergency loan on Friday, with manager Paul Lambert concerned that another loan player, Ben Alwnick, wouldn't pass a test demanded by parent club Tottenham Hotspur.

Chris Lakey

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was pushed straight into the deep end on Saturday - and spent the build-up trying to learn his new team-mates' names.

Forster was drafted in on a one-month emergency loan on Friday, with manager Paul Lambert concerned that another loan player, Ben Alwnick, wouldn't pass a test demanded by parent club Tottenham Hotspur.

It was a precaution that was worth taking, with Alnwick ruled out and his good friend Forster in - just 11 days after he had helped Bristol Rovers to a 2-1 win on the same ground.

Forster is on loan from nearby Newcastle and met up with the squad in the north-east, with no time for usual niceties.

"I know Ben Alnwick and I was in the changing room with him before the game asking him the back four's names and trying to remember them," laughed Forster.

"But we managed in the end - it was a great team performance today to get the win.

"It's an added bonus that I kept a clean sheet, but just a win. I think Hartlepool are sick of me after I came here last week as well.

"But it's brilliant to come to such a big club and get the win in my first game - I couldn't ask for more."

Forster's move to City came out of the blue, although Lambert had expressed concerns about the possibility of having to play young Declan Rudd, while Michael Theoklitos appears to be have been frozen out of the first team picture.

"I've played since the start of the season at Bristol Rovers, but this just came out of nowhere to be honest," said Forster.

"It threw me a little bit, but after meeting the lads and meeting the manager and just having a chat with him I felt this is definitely a place to come and play. The ambitions of the manager especially is phenomenal.

"I know they had an indifferent start to the season, but the new manager knows what he wants and if we play like that every game we'll definitely be there or thereabouts at the end of the season."

Forster's arrival means two friends could end up fighting or the same job.

"It should be interesting," said the 6ft 6in, 21-year-old. "It's strange because I know him quite well. Competing against each other isn't ideal in one sense but we both want to help our own careers and if we do that by playing well for Norwich that will benefit Norwich as well."