Norwich City striker Cody McDonald believes Canaries boss Paul Lambert has the midas touch.Lambert's half time dressing down inspired City to steamroller Huddersfield last time out to turn up the heat on League One title rivals Leeds and Charlton.

Norwich City striker Cody McDonald believes Canaries boss Paul Lambert has the midas touch.

Lambert's half time dressing down inspired City to steamroller Huddersfield last time out to turn up the heat on League One title rivals Leeds and Charlton.

Lambert has now mined 41 league points since he officially took charge at Carrow Road for the 5-2 home romp over former club Wycombe in late August.

Back-up frontman McDonald admits the former Champions League winner commands total respect amongst his promotion-chasing squad.

"He's a level headed person, he's been there, done it all and is just trying to rub it off on us now," he said. "He's a brilliant manager and he's just keeping everyone calm and if things aren't going right he'll give us the rollicking we need to give us that extra little push.

"It was a great result om Saturday because we didn't really perform the way we can in the first half, but to come out in the second half and do what we did, I thought, was brilliant and just answered a few critics that we may have had at half-time."

McDonald is confident City can close in on the division's pacesetting duo over the festive period.

"We're gradually getting closer and closer (to Charlton), and we're all confident we can catch them up and why not even go and get Leeds," he said. "They're eight points ahead, so we've proved we can catch up with Charlton. We want to go and win the league, and that's the aim.

"The games come thick and fast now and if you go through Christmas and get three wins, that's nine points and you just hope other teams drop points around us, like Charlton, and you never know.

"We could be above them just after this little period we've got coming up."

McDonald (pictured) is hoping to get his chance to cap a whirlwind year since his January arrival from non-league Dartford.

"I always had the ambition to do it but I never really thought that I'd get the chance," said the City striker. "Thankfully Norwich gave me that chance and I came here and did all I can, and hopefully we can top off a good season now and go and get promoted.

"I've been in the squad and been there or thereabouts every week. It's hard to get into it when you've got the other boys doing so well, and I'm obviously not in the position to have a little moan or anything because they're doing so well. I've just got to bide my time and when I get my chance just hopefully take it."

The young Norwich forward is not too worried about squeezing a full-time training schedule into his first Christmas as a professional and hopes City's festive fixtures - Boxing Day's visit of Millwall preceding trips to Walsall and Wycombe - will give him opportunities to get involved.

"In non-league they're not as big games and training around Christmas Day and all that is a lot different for me," he said.

"We used to play on Boxing Day for Dartford but, other than that, it was just a normal schedule. It's a lot busier here and this is when we need the squad most. Hopefully I'll get to play a big part in it over this Christmas period and we can go out and get the wins that we want.

"I think we play three games in eight days, so that's when we need the big squad we've got to all play a big part in what's to come. It's going to be a lot different for me on a personal note, but we're professional and we just deal with it as it comes."

McDonald is desperate to sample the special Carrow Road atmosphere again after a series of cameos on the road in recent weeks.

"I always seem to come on in the away games," he said. "I haven't come on at home for a while but I've just got to be patient and when I get the chance, whenever the manager calls upon me, I just go and do what I can - and hopefully that is play a big part in the season.

"The crowd have been great. They're getting behind us every game because they know what a massive season it is for us. Teams do get stuck in this league, so they're giving us great support and getting right behind us and just helping us with that extra little push to help us get into the Championship, where we belong."