YOUNG midfielder Korey Smith said last season's FA Youth Cup run has helped him adjust to life in the first team.

Smith who captained the Academy side to victories over Wigan Athletic, Stoke City and Everton before losing out narrowly to Manchester City at Eastlands in the competition, said: "Our youth team did really well last year, coming second in the league and getting to the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup and going and playing in those stadiums - Carrow Road, away at Everton and Manchester City - you get used to it and although playing in the first team is completely different the surroundings are similar and so it's good experience."

With seven Academy products having figured in the first team already this season under Paul Lambert, the 18-year-old said: "At Hartlepool there were six or seven involved in the squad. It's excellent to see as obviously we've come through the youth team together and are really close friends and it's great to see them doing well.

"I think he's got faith in the young players, he's not worried to put them in it shows he believes in us and it gives us confidence. I've realised the Norwich fans love when a young player comes from the Academy and it's good that they get behind you."

The introduction of fellow Academy product and friend Tom Adeyemi against Wycombe Wanderers just after the hour-mark, marked the first time the pair had played together at senior level, but Smith was keen to stress any rivalry is friendly: "It's not a competition, obviously we both want to play but we're both young and have our careers ahead of us and we're really close friends off the pitch as well so we both want to see each other do well. When he came on against Wycombe in centre midfield we both looked at each other and smiled it was a happy moment. We always said 'imagine one day us both playing in the first team together' and it happened. It's quality really."

When asked about his first senior goal on only his third appearance for the Club, a scorcher against Wycombe at Carrow Road two weeks ago, Smith laughingly replied: "To be honest I don't score that many! To score on my home debut was an excellent feeling. A few people took the mickey a little bit and had a joke with me but it doesn't matter."

Tickets are still available to see City take on Walsall at Carrow Road by logging on to online ticketing, by calling 0844 826 1902, or in person at Carrow Road ticket office or the Canary Store in the Mall, Norwich.