CITY striker Cody McDonald played the full 90 minutes of Norwich's 5-0 thumping of Southend Reserves - and said competition for places in Paul Lambert's senior squad had spurred the players on.

McDonald, who bagged City's second of the night on seven minutes, told First News: "These games are great for us. Southend brought a good team down tonight and there's really good competition for places out there so it's good.

"There's a big place up for grabs in the first team, everyones playing well in the Club at the moment and there's a real confidence about the place so just as we keep playing as we are, whether in the reserves or in the first team when we get the opportunity. I think we'll do really well this year."

McDonald has been a first-team substitute in recent games, with the experienced Jamie Cureton partnering top scorer and skipper Grant Holt. But the former Dartford marksman knows a place in the starting 11 has to be earned: "It is frustrating but that's part and parcel of football - they're not just going to have two strikers that play every time, so there's big competition there. So basically when we get the chance we have to take it."

The Canaries face two big tests in their next couple of Coca-Cola League One encounters, with next Monday's trip to MK Dons (live on Sky, 7.45pm) followed by the visit of Phil Parkinson's Charlton Athletic at Carrow Road on Saturday, September 19 (3pm).

The Dons lost in the play-off semi-finals to Scunthorpe United on penalties last season and are currently 5th in the table - meanwhile the high-flying Addicks have won six league games out of six so far and currently top the table on goal difference from Leeds.

McDonald commented: "They're big games for us but if we want to do well in this league these are the teams we've got to beat. Obviously going to MK Dons on Monday is going to be a real tough task but I'm sure we can all pull together a pull off a really good result."

When McDonald has come on in recent games he has often found himself partnering Grant Holt - and it's a partnership the Essex lad enjoys: "He's a very good talker - obviously playing with someone like Grant with the experience that he's had at playing at this level of football really helps, so thankfully when I've got the chance of playing with someone like Grant  it's good for me."

Tickets for City's next two league games against MK Dons and Charlton Athletic are available 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.

Picture courtesy of Aaron Murrell