MIDFIELDER Simon Lappin is hoping his fortunes continue from 2009 into 2010. The Scotsman who signed for City from St Mirren in January 2007 played 33 games in the calendar year for the Canaries.
It's a far cry from his protracted exile from the first team following the 3-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park in November 2007, which saw Lappin fall out of favour under then manager Glenn Roeder. A loan spell at Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League followed in the second half of the 2007-08 season, but Lappin saw no first team action in a City shirt in the whole of 2008.
Bryan Gunn restored the industrious midfielder to the side in March 2009 and this season Lappin has played in 26 of Norwich's 30 games - and despite going 16 months without featuring for City, Lappin remains philosophical about that earlier challenging period.
"It just shows how quickly things can change in football, it changed the opposite way about two years ago and it turned again. I said all along I wanted to be here and I just kept my head down and worked hard all through the time I was out of the team. That is all in the past now and I'm enjoying every minute at the moment and long may it continue.
"We're winning games and scoring goals and playing attractive football, we just need to keep concentrating and doing the same things. It is a great group of boys we've got here and hopefully we can go and do something this season, we're all together, striving for the same thing and that is to get back into the Championship, but there is a long way to go yet and a lot of hard work to be done."
The hard work continues on Boxing Day at home to Millwall (12.45pm). The Lions have lost just twice in their last 16 games in all competitions and come into the game off the back of a thrilling 4-4 draw away at Charlton Athletic - in which they were reduced to 10 men after just 37 minutes, leading 2-1 at the time.
"It's the same as every game, it's always going to be hard no matter who we are playing in this league. They've got a good result at the weekend as well, going to Charlton and getting a draw. We're at home, the onus will be on us to go and win the game and that's what we'll be looking to do.
"Confidence is at a high now and that comes from winning games, we know how tough it is going to be so we need to be at the top of our game."
City themselves are currently on a great run of seven home wins on the spin, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two in those games and Lappin says the fans deserve credit for their ever-passionate support.
"The fans are incredible, they turn up every week, home and away and that drives us on as well. They have always been great in my opinion, win, lose or draw they are there next week again and they have been absolutely brilliant, all the boys they fully appreciate that."
Millwall is the first of two games in three days for City over the festive period, as the Canaries travel to Walsall on Monday, December 28 (3pm).
"It is tough but that is the business we are in, we've just got to get on with it. After the first game you've got to make sure you recover right for the next one. We're all going to be professional and get on with the job we've got to do.
"I actually enjoy playing over the Christmas period, there are always great atmospheres and everybody's in a good mood coming into the stadiums."
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