Fans' favourite Leon Mckenzie is facing a race against time to be fit before the end of the season. The 26-year-old, who has a traumatic time because of injury this season, remains doubtful for Saturday's trip to Cardiff having taken a knock just above his hip against Preston two weeks ago.

Fans' favourite Leon Mckenzie is facing a race against time to be fit before the end of the season.

The 26-year-old, who has a traumatic time because of injury this season, remains doubtful for Saturday's trip to Cardiff having taken a knock just above his hip against Preston two weeks ago.

The City striker has not trained since and is having to wait for the bruising to subside before he can get back into the thick of the action.

“I still get a really sharp pain just above my hip when I try to do anything strenuous, it's like someone is sticking knife in me,” said McKenzie, whose return to the side in mid-February, having shaken off a troublesome ankle injury from earlier on in the season, coincided with City's late but ultimately fruitless push for the play-offs.

This latest set-back, as McKenzie admits, has led to yet more frustration as it has come at a time when Nigel Worthington will be surely formulating his masterplan for promotion next season and the Canaries striker is keen to plant a few seeds of intent in the manager's mind.

“I've got to wait for it to settle down and go from there but it's put me back again,” said the indomitable hit-man. “But you know me if I could be back training tomorrow I would be. I'm working with the physios to get me back as soon as possible because I don't want to end the season with an injury.

“I've had my fair share of injuries this season so hopefully I'll go next time round without any.”

McKenzie was delighted to see the heart shown by his team-mates, however, to come back from two goals down against QPR on Easter Monday and snatch three very unlikely points.

He was also delighted to see the players give such a public showing of support for boss Worthington as they raised their game despite all the fans' vitriol that cascaded down from the stands as City looked doomed to failure.

“I thought that we played OK and it was a great comeback,” he said. “It's certainly not up there with the likes of the comeback at Middlesbrough last season as that was a totally different scenario and QPR are not Boro.

“But it goes to show how all the players are behind the gaffer and want to do well for him.

“If they didn't then it would have been easy for them to go missing and they didn't, they did the exact opposite.”

He added: “I don't think that there is any reason for the clapping or sarcasm from the crowd. It doesn't help the players who are all trying to do their best for the club.”

McKenzie was also very pleased by the performances of new-boys Michael Spillane at right back and Ryan Jarvis, who has come in as his replacement up front.

McKenzie, who obviously trains closely with Jarvis, was quick to defend talented teenager against accusations that he maybe lacks the right attitude to succeed, and is the reason he's failed to make the breakthrough into the first team.

“Micky Spillane was very solid and I though that he did very well along with Ryan Jarvis,” said McKenzie.

“I see Ryan in training everyday and know what he's capable of. He's got game no doubt about that.

“He is laid back but he's not lazy. He's 19 and still finding his way in the game. He got all the talent in the world and I'm positive that there is a lot more to come from him.”