AFTER City emerged 7-2 victors over Dartford Town at the weekend, ex-Darts player Cody McDonald said it was fantastic to go back to his former club.
Due to an illness suffered during the previous week, the striker spent just 20 minutes in action in the second half of the match. Despite not playing the full 90 minutes, after the game McDonald told canaries.co.uk he was still glad to get back out on the pitch at Princes Park.
"It was great to come back, it's a lovely place to come and play," he said. "I spent three months here before I signed for Norwich, so coming back to Dartford is exciting for me, and for the boys as well to see where I've come from. It's good stuff, and hopefully we can come back again next year and do the same. I did pretty well when I was here so I thought I'd get a nice reception, so I enjoyed it.
"I've had a bit of a rough week, I came down with a bug but I managed to train later in the week and then get 20 minutes against Dartford. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't even get that - it was down to the gaffer and he was fine because I felt a lot better than I had done."
Cody was brought down in the second half of the game by Billy Burgess, resulting in referee Andy D'Urso awarding the Canaries a penalty. Although the home 'keeper saved Jamie Cureton's initial effort, the rebound fell kindly for the City striker to ram it home from a yard out. On the penalty, McDonald said: "I must admit, I'm not a great one for taking penalties - if it came to point where everyone was pushing me to take it I might do, but I'm not a great one for taking them, I never have been. Thankfully Jamie took it for me."
Asked by reporters after the game how he would feel if Bryan Gunn brought in any new strikers, McDonald replied: "It was the first time I've seen Chris Martin play a game against Dartford, I heard he did well at Luton last year and now he's back, I'm sure he's going to do the same here.
"Everyone knows what Curo's about, he's a goal-scrorer, and then there's myself - maybe if they do bring a big man in who we can play around, I'm sure it will work well."
With Norwich's Scotland tour kicking off against Raith Rovers tomorrow, the 23-year-old told First News he was excited about his first tour as a professional player. "It's my first tour, so I'm really looking forward to it," he added. "We've got three games up there so hopefully I'll play a bit more and get my fitness levels up to prepare well for the season ahead. Pre-season is a difficult time - we're training every day with double sessions, but it's just something I have to get used to and it will benefit me.
"The goal against Cardiff was a great moment for me, and then going down on the last day in the manner we did wasn't good - hopefully that's something I won't come across again with Norwich. I'm sure we'll have better times this year, and hopefully get back to the Championship where we belong.
"I haven't played at League One level, and I only played for a short time in the Championship but I didn't think I did too badly, so I'm looking forward to it."
