McNamee is hoping tonight's the night

Anthony McNamee is happy to play the waiting game but admits he is desperate to make his first start under Paul Lambert. The 26-year-old winger has been restricted to six appearances as a substitute since his loan move from League One rivals Swindon in November, which was made permanent last month.

Anthony McNamee is happy to play the waiting game but admits he is desperate to make his first start under Paul Lambert.

The 26-year-old winger has been restricted to six appearances as a substitute since his loan move from League One rivals Swindon in November, which was made permanent last month.

However, having come off the bench to good effect in recent matches and with the Canaries slipping to a second defeat in three games on Saturday at home to Southampton, McNamee could get his chance to shine when Southend United arrive at Carrow Road tonight (7.45pm).

However, the tricky wide man admits he would be happy with just seeing the league leaders get back into the winning habit as quickly as possible.

“From my point of view I am hoping that I can get a game, but as long as we win, that's the main thing - as long as we get three points,” said McNamee. “It has been hard, obviously, because the games I have been coming on we have been losing but I'm just happy where we are in the table and hopefully we can keep winning.

“I have come into a winning team so I just have to be patient and wait for my chance. I like night games, I've always liked night games wherever I've been, so it's going to be a good one on Tuesday. It's what I'm dying to play in front of, starting in front of a big crowd, but it's just about being patient.

“I am here for a reason and hopefully I can get on the pitch sometime soon.

“The team's doing well so I've got nothing to complain about.”

City remain three points clear of Leeds at the top of League One despite Saturday's defeat, which was not helped by the harsh second-half dismissal of Darel Russell for a challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin. But McNamee is aware how important it is the Canaries bounce back with a win tonight.

“Obviously we would like to win every game but the result didn't go for us (on Saturday) and hopefully we can pick it up for Southend,” he said.

“From where I was I didn't even think it was a red card for Darel at all. I haven't seen a replay but everyone is behind him. He's an important player.

“We need to get three more points and show people that we can still win games. We'll bounce back, no problem.

“Hopefully we can get out there tomorrow and get Chrissy Martin and Holty back on the scoresheet, score some goals and win the game. They are just goal machines really, so hopefully I can get assists when I play with them.”

McNamee is not surprised he has gone from being first on Swindon's team-sheet to biding his time for chances at Carrow Road.

“Not really because it's such a big club, so I'm just taking my time and taking it step by step and seeing how things go,” said McNamee. “I don't mind playing on the right, but I am naturally a left-footer. A lot of defenders like to defend the outside, they're more comfortable if they're defending on their right foot, but I don't mind playing on the right because I don't mind going down the flank on my right side either.”