AS CITY approach the final 10 games of the season Paul Lambert looks likely to have an increasingly fit squad to see the Canaries through to the climax of the League One campaign.
Wednesday's Reserve 2-1 win over Peterborough United saw a return to action for defender Zak Whitbread and striker Cody McDonald as well as further game time for left-back Adam Drury.
On Whitbread and McDonald, Lambert said: "Hopefully the next week or so they'll get more training under their belt and they'll be nearly ready."
Asked whether Drury will see a return to first team action this weekend against Swindon Town the City boss said he would be seeing how the 31-year-old feels, but that it was a positive to have him back in contention.
"He's in about it," said Lambert. "It's a major plus him coming back with the way he's been playing, so we'll see how he feels."
The only current injury concern remains young striker Luke Daley who has had a repeat of a thigh injury which has kept him out of senior action since early December - a return to Reserve action a couple of weeks ago has aggravated the 20-year-old's injury.
Danny Wilson's Swindon Town have pushed themselves firmly in the promotion frame sitting in fourth and level with Charlton on 66 points. "They're a really good side," said Lambert.
With Robin strikers Billy Paynter and former non-league player Charlie Austin currently having netted 34 goals League One goals between them, the City boss agreed the former Poole Town player had been a good acquisition for the County Ground club: "He's done great he really has, terrifically well to score the goals, so he's done terrifically well for them."
However, the City boss was keen for his team to be fully aware of the threat posed by the whole of the Swindon team that have pushed themselves into the promotion race: "Everybody is a threat, it's a hard game," he said.
After last week's sterling come-back performance against Huddersfield Town thanks to a goal from captain Grant Holt and a brace from substitute Stephen Elliott, Lambert was asked if this would effect his thoughts on using the on-loan Preston striker as more than a super-sub.
"It's my decision what I want to do, I see everyone as being as vital as each other. Everybody is as important as each other here."
The Scot is keen to praise the efforts of the forward three of Holt, Hoolahan and Martin who have scored 61 goals between them so far this season, but Lambert also believes it's important to keep everyone on their toes.
"You can't have the front three always thinking things are going to go easy for them, they've got to be put under pressure and that's what you try and do when you build a squad. You have to make sure everyone is as good as each other and when your turn comes you've got to try take it.
"We've got some really good players at this football club and it's up to other people to come in and dislodge them."
Last week's 3-1 victory over Huddersfield saw the Canaries extend their lead at the top of League One, but with many commentators suggesting City are nailed-on promotion candidates, Lambert is keen to stress there is a long way to go: "I think it will be tough. There's still a lot of work to be done and we're in in the mix. When it's mathematically finished fine but it's not, nowhere near it, so we're in the mix and there's still a long way to go.
"Whether you're top, middle or bottom football is a pressured game, everything's the same, you're always under it - you have to try and win as many games as you can."
He added: "At this minute in time it's been extraordinary what the players have done. You try and get the job done, no matter how you do it, you try and get it done. That's what everyone at the Club wants to try and do, the fans want it and the players want it - we're in the mix with everyone else and we'll do what we can to try and get there."
There are limited tickets available to buy from the Away Ticket Office at the Country Ground for Saturday's match.
