DAVID CUFFLEY Nigel Worthington has hailed the arrival of new first team coach Martin Hunter as a “magnificent appointment”. With the Canaries bidding for their second home win in five days with Luton Town the visitors to Carrow Road on Saturday, Worthington said the influence of his new coach was a significant factor in his side's impressive performances in the 1-0 defeat at Leeds and 2-0 home win over Preston.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City boss Nigel Worthington today hailed the arrival of new first team coach Martin Hunter as a “magnificent appointment”.

With the Canaries bidding for their second home win in five days with Luton Town the visitors to Carrow Road on Saturday, Worthington said the influence of his new coach was a significant factor in his side's impressive performances in the 1-0 defeat at Leeds and 2-0 home win over Preston.

He said: “We have a new coach, new ideas and new thinking. It's been a magnificent appointment. We are all of the same mind in that we want to pass the ball and Martin is part of that. We didn't pass it well last season for different reasons, it just didn't happen but that's what we're going to do.”

Worthington said mental strength, built up over a tough pre-season schedule, had also played its part in City's bright start to the season.

He said: “Its about giving out the right messages, everyone singing off the same hymn sheet, a belief in what we are doing and getting other people to believe in it.”

New signs, which have been put up around the Colney training centre, were an indication of the positive thinking, said the manager, making reference to one in particular over the entrance which reads “Norwich City Football Club - striving for excellence”.

Worthington said: “We've had a very thorough pre-season schedule, well designed, purposely built and we're putting it into action.

“The energy we are playing with comes from that and we'll need that against Luton on Saturday. Three games in eight days is a lot for the human body but we'll be able to cope with it.”

On the injury front, forward Ian Henderson is still sidelined with a groin strain and Rossi Jarvis still under treatment for a thigh injury, but midfielder Andy Hughes is back in training and will be available for selection against Luton. Midfielder Dickson Etuhu was sporting a bandage on a sprained wrist today, but will be okay to play.

Worthington added that fullback Matthieu Louis-Jean, out of first team action for a year, was now training with the rest of the squad and could be involved in a reserve game later this month.