CAPTAIN and leading scorer Grant Holt is all set to return to the City line-up for Saturday's League One clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium (3pm).
With Cody McDonald sidelined with a thigh injury the scene is set for 23-goal Holt to resume his place in the starting line-up.
Holt's physical presence and eye for goal have been missed during his three-match ban following a first-half dismissal during City's Carrow Road match with Brentford on January 23. Having now served his suspension the 28-year-old marksman is champing at the bit for a return to action.
"Obviously it is never nice not to play and I'm not a big fan of watching," Holt told First News.
"I went to Millwall last week but stayed away from the other two games but it has been great that the lads have been winning."
Holt was keen to praise his team-mates' efforts in his absence. The 10-men battled on bravely to earn a 1-0 win over a resolute Brentford at Carrow Road. Paul Lambert's side then recorded 2-1 wins over Walsall and Hartlepool before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat away to Millwall last weekend.
"I let myself down by getting sent off and let the lads down but they have been great and have done fantastically over that last couple of weeks.
"Last weekend I think all the hard work caught up with them a bit and we didn't perform as well as we know we can. Now I just can't wait to get back."
The Millwall defeat saw City's lead at the top of League One trimmed to just two points and Holt said now is the time for City to get ready to stand toe-to-toe with their promotion rivals.
"Fortunately last weekend we didn't lose too much ground. What we've got to do is look at the teams around us and whatever they do we've got to match it or better it."
Two of Holt's 23 goals this season came in City comprehensive 4-1 victory over the Seagulls at Carrow Road back in November but Holt is anticipating that Gus Poyet's side will be a tougher nut to crack on their own patch.
"We know it is going to be tough at Brighton but we know we've got the squad and team that's good enough to go there and get a result."
City fans will be delighted to see their talisman back in action this weekend and hopefully adding to his 23-goal haul. However, Holt is not worried about who gets the goals - it is only the team's success that matters to him.
"I've never set any targets but I'd like to better what I got last season which was 28. There's enough games to do that but as I've said at the start it is not about me it is about the team and out target is to get promoted."
Watch the pre-match interviews with manager Paul Lambert, skipper Grant Holt and midfielder Darel Russell only on Canaries Player, which this week also features highlights and reaction to the Reserve match against Ipswich Town.
