MIDFIELDER Matt Gill was pleased to come through 45 minutes in Wednesday night's 7-0 win over Stevenage Borough Reserves at Carrow Road.

Gill started the move for both of Josh Dawkin's goals before departing at half-time with City leading 4-0.

The 29-year-old said: "That was always going to be the case tonight, to play 45 minutes on my first game back and I'm really pleased to get back out there. The front boys looked very lively, Cureton, Cody (McDonald) and young Josh (Dawkin), it was a good game to be involved in."

Gill has been sidelined with patella tendonitis since mid-August and is concentrating on rebuilding his fitness.

"First and foremost I need to get as fit as I possibly can, there is another reserve team game next week against Northampton, so I would like to step up again and maybe play an hour or 75 minutes and gradually just get fitter. I have been training with the lads, which has been great and I'm just working as hard as I can to get as fit as I can. It is just purely a cardiovascular thing, the knee is fine now.

"When the first team lads have travelled on a Friday, I have done a couple of sessions with the youth team. Ricky Martin (academy manger) has allowed me to join in, they are a great bunch of lads, I think they are second again in the league so far."

With fellow centre midfielder Owain Tudur Jones hoping to return to action soon, City can count on a wealth of options in the middle of the park - Darel Russell, Korey Smith, Stephen Hughes and Tom Adeyemi all currently locking horns for selection in City's engine room.

"The lads are doing very very well, which is a great thing, obviously competition for places is always a great thing for a football club. With the Club doing well it can only be a good thing with the lads pushing each other throughout the week. Every player wants the team to be doing well because everybody gets rewards at the end of it."

Gill sustained his knee injury in the 2-1 league defeat to Brentford, with City Boss Paul Lambert on a watching brief from the stands - having been appointed that day.

"There is never a good time to get injured, the worst thing about being a footballer is when you are injured. There is a never a good time but obviously with the changeover of manager, that is probably the worst time. I've just tried to keep my head down, work hard and hopefully I can show the manager I have something to offer but I'm just really pleased to be back playing again. The rehab I have had from the physios has been brilliant.

"It hurt initially but I have enjoyed watching the lads, they have been free-scoring and as a Norwich fan I have enjoyed watching them win. At home the atmosphere has been unbelievable, which I have enjoyed being a part of. Hopefully I can have the kit on, on a Saturday soon.

"The lads are on a great run at the moment and long may that continue. We have a big game coming up on Monday, I'm sure everybody in this division will be watching."