Michael Bailey Jamie Cureton has confessed Norwich City's new management team makes him feel old - which is probably understandable. The 33-year-old striker played alongside his new manager Bryan Gunn and first team coach Ian Crook during his first spell at Carrow Road, while freshly- appointed chief scout John Deehan handed a 19-year-old Cureton his Canaries debut against Everton back in 1994.

Michael Bailey

Jamie Cureton has confessed Norwich City's new management team makes him feel old - which is probably understandable.

The 33-year-old striker played alongside his new manager Bryan Gunn and first team coach Ian Crook during his first spell at Carrow Road, while freshly- appointed chief scout John Deehan handed a 19-year-old Cureton his Canaries debut against Everton back in 1994.

And with City's latest crunch fixture fast approaching - this time Southampton at Carrow Road on Tuesday - the Norwich striker is looking forward to working with his former colleagues.

"It makes me feel a bit old now. I mean, John gave me my debut at the club and I played with Ian, so I'm sure they're probably wondering why I'm still playing to be honest," said Cureton. "But I think it's just what the place needed.

"Everyone knows them, their characters, they know the city well and I'm looking forward to working with both of them.

"John's already said I owe him money, which I found surprising. He said 'well, I gave you your chance in football', so he's still got good banter and he'll be good to have around the place.

"Chippy's exactly the same, so I think it's good and it is down to us now to basically do the business on the pitch and make them proud."

Gunn's season-long appointment has gone down well with the playing squad, according to Cureton, and he revealed some over-exuberance in the dressing room after Norwich's 4-0 win over Barnsley on Saturday may have helped him get the job.

"The boys have all got on very well with him, coming in the other week before the Barnsley game, and I think everyone's very pleased that he's got the job," said Cureton. "The boys were having a bit of banter, obviously the result was very good, everyone was on a high and the chairman comes in as he always does and I think a few of the boys have thrown it around (to make Gunn manager). I don't know if that has got him the job but if it has, then fair play."

Norwich have 18 games to secure their Championship future and while some have suggest Gunn's appointment is a cheap option, Cureton believes choosing people with substantial Norwich pedigree, people who understand the club, was a necessity.

"I think so, with how things were going, everyone seems to feel we'd lost that, the fans side of it and family side of it," said the Norwich striker. "So I think everyone wanted people to come in who had a big connection with the club, knew about the place, knew the people around the city and I think in giving it to Bryan, John and Ian, you've got everything in that. They've all got a massive history with the club, so I think it will work.

"Crook's a bubbly character and I'm sure he will come in and fit straight in. I've said to a lot of the players I'm sure they'll get on very well with him. He was, technically, probably one of the best players I've played with and he was always good around the changing rooms."

Cureton is also aware that, for Gunn, taking the job of manager is a brave decision for a man who is adored by the Canaries' faithful.

"I think he knows it is the one job he's taken at this club that could go and backfire on him," admitted Cureton. "I'm sure his status will never change but obviously it is one of these jobs now where it could turn out sour.

"Every other job he's done, he has never really had that sort of pressure on him. But he's obviously been here for so long, and he was taking loads of jobs - sheriff, the lot - so it was only a matter of time probably before he took the managers job.

"He seemed very proud today. He was very pleased and thanked the lads for the performance because he feels the commitment we showed him, everyone out there, that it was probably part of the reason why he's got the job.

"I'm sure he will do his utmost to do well for this club and it's down to us now to repay that. "