AFTER he made his City first team debut against Cardiff earlier this week, Adrian Leijer says he was delighted to play a part in the match which saw the Canaries power to a 2-0 victory.
The 22-year-old joined Norwich on loan from Fulham in early February, and replaced fellow defender Jason Shackell after half-time against the Bluebirds.
Speaking exclusively to canaries.co.uk, Leijer said: "It was good, and it was nice to get the first game out of the way - it's always hard getting that first one and to come away with a 2-0 victory for the team was the most important thing.
"It was great to make my debut and if I can help the team in the remaining eight games, that's my aim."
As he prepared to come on at the start of the second half on Tuesday, City skipper Gary Doherty spoke to the Australian centre-back. Asked what the captain said to him, Leijer replied: "He said to me to just go about my game how I have been in training.
"To have someone like Doc next to you made it a hell of a lot easier, he's a very experienced player. He was talking to me and keeping me going, and just made me feel more comfortable and I have to give him a big thank you for helping me settle in."
Leijer arrived in a swap deal with Elliot Omozusi, with the youngster returning to Fulham when Leijer arrived last month. Along with Omozusi, another ex-Canary also spoke to the Cottagers' player before he moved to Carrow Road: "I spoke to Elliot before I came here, I was with with him for a while at Fulham.
"Dickson Etuhu came this year too so I had a chat with them. When we played QPR Dickson was there supporting the team and I had a good talk with him there as well. Everyone always speaks highly of the Club and now, when you're here, you can see why."
Making his thoughts clear on the talents of players within the Canary camp, Leijer said he believed Norwich were destined to keep their Championship status. "It's one of those divisions where I think anyone can beat anyone on any given day," he said. "There's no great gap between the top sides and the bottom sides, and we've got eight games at the moment to hopefully have a good run and keep the team in the Championship for next season.
"There's no reason why we can't stay in the Championship, there's some good players here and if we keep going at it the way we have been over the next few weeks, there's no reason why we can't stay up."
Having spent just over a month at Norwich, Leijer said he'd settled in well to the Norfolk way of life: "It's been good, I've enjoyed the change and it's a great club which is very well supported in a great community and it's an honour to be here. Ian Crook told me a lot about Norwich before I came here and when I first came here he showed me around. It's great to see all the facilities and how brilliant everything is here, and it's a good place to be to play your football.
"I used to play for Melbourne and he was the assistant manager at Sydney, and then I played for the Australian under-20 team and he was assistant manager a couple of times there too. Everyone in Australia's football circle knows each other somehow, thankfully Ian got the position here and recommended me to the manager.
"It's been great having Ian here, and David Carney who I know as well - whenever you go somewhere and there's a couple of boys you know it makes it a lot easier to settle in."
