Lambert: City kids are all right

Paddy Davitt Norwich City boss Paul Lambert believes City's young guns can have a big say the club's Championship fortunes ahead of tonight's latest assignment at Doncaster.

Paddy Davitt

Norwich City boss Paul Lambert believes City's young guns can have a big say the club's Championship fortunes ahead of tonight's latest assignment at Doncaster (7.45pm).

Teenage regular Korey Smith earned rave reviews for his pivotal role in the Canaries' comeback league win against Barnsley at the weekend, with fellow academy graduate Declan Rudd deputising for John Ruddy.

Lambert, however, is keen to dampen rising expectations regarding his blossoming midfielder who has been a key figure in the club's impressive early season form.

“The way he's (Korey) going, the way he's carried on from what he did last season is great,” said Lambert.

“It's another step up, he's only a kid really. He's only 19 and it's his first time in the Championship. It's great for him, it's great for the club.

“At that age you can play without a fear factor because you rely on older ones to carry you through and older ones will get stick before you.

“The prime example was Dec when had his kicks on Saturday. When he had a couple of bad kicks the crowd stayed with him, which was great. They'll give you time if you're a young player.

“If you're experienced, 29 or 30, you have a couple of mistakes I'm pretty sure people will let you know quicker than when you were young. So his career's going the right way, which is great for him and great for the club. I'm delighted with Korey.”

Lambert insists City need to be at full throttle to take points from their trip to the Keepmoat Stadium.

“This will be a tough game,” he said. “They're a really good football side. They've been up there for a few years now, so I'm under no illusions about how hard this one is going to be, the way they play the game.

“We have to try to keep it going and go up and try to win the game. We're not going to go up there and try to sit back or anything like that.

“We're going to try to impose our game and win, but they're a really good side. The thing they have is they have been in the league a few years. That's what they've got over us. We're new to it - new to every team other than Leeds and Millwall.

“They're an established Championship side and a very, very good side. They have done great over the past few years.”