AS SUNDAY'S clash with local rivals Ipswich Town draws closer, former Blues striker Alan Lee says he's looking forward to the weekend's crucial game at Portman Road.
The on-loan Crystal Palace frontman told canaries.co.uk he is looking forward to returning to his old hunting ground - only this time in Canary colours.
"I think there's always an extra bit of spice in these games," he said. "As for the importance factor, it's crucial no matter who we're playing. It's so important, and we'll know how the other teams did the day before going in to the game and hopefully those results will help us or give us a lift.
"We've got to get the result. For me, it's the excitement before the game when there'll be a lot of people milling about outside Portman Road. You can touch the atmosphere, and it's exciting. I expected a bit of hype and I'm prepared for it - it's important now we all think about the game and how we're going to perform."
The 30-year old striker played for City's East Anglian Rivals between 2006 and 2008. Asked by reporters at a pre-match press conference to reflect on his time with Ipswich, he replied: "I still know plenty of the lads, I still stay in touch as you do all of your old colleagues. But when you're on the pitch you don't have any time to think about anything other than the game.
"I don't need to prove anything to anyone at Ipswich, I scored a lot of goals for them - to be honest the response I've had from Ipswich fans since I came to Norwich has been totally positive, and they've been really happy for me. People leave football clubs, that's football - there's no point getting angry or worked up, it's life and it's how football goes. I think the fans knew I gave 100 per cent for them and they appreciate that."
He continued: "I'm looking forward to getting back there, I feel so good at the moment I can't wait. I wish the game had been on Tuesday, straight after the Watford game. I've not played as many games as I have in previous seasons so there's still plenty left in the tank. A good start at a club is huge, and I think it's even bigger for a centre-forward, so I've been thrilled with how things have gone at Norwich."
