Leroy in mood to ruin Town's day

Elvin King

NORWICH City striker Leroy Lita is in the mood to ruin the day for Ipswich Town fans in the Coca-Cola Championship televised East Anglian derby at Carrow Road on Sunday.

The match marks the last game of his current loan from Reading and the 23-year-old former England Under-21 international is determined to stay with the Canaries at least until the end of the year.

A third month would be the maximum length of time for any emergency loan, by which time the January transfer window will be open - and Reading may be prepared to listen to bids for a striker who has scored six goals in 11 Norwich appearances.

“I need to be playing every week,” said Lita. “I've made it clear that I won't go back to Reading to sit on the bench or not be involved.

“I'm here playing and I'm enjoying it. I just want to do well.

“Unless Reading are going to call me back and play me - that's the only way I'd go back.

“I've not spoken to anyone so I'm just looking forward to Sunday and we'll take it from there.”

Lita says that he can hardly wait to sample the atmosphere on Sunday adding: “The fans have been talking about it, the players say it's a great game to play in, so I am looking forward to it. At this end of the country it's a massive game.

“Form goes out of the window. We're rivals and it's just going to be about who takes their chances on the day and makes the most of the occasion.”

Although they are currently fourth from bottom, Lita believes it is too soon to write off City's chances of challenging at the other end of the table.

He said: “We've lost a lot of games but we're still not far off. It just shows we've let too many chances slip but we need to put that right.”

Lita has ploughed a lone furrow in attack for most of the last three games as City manager Glenn Roeder has varied his formation, but he said he was happy whether he was the sole striker or operating with Antoine Sibierski alongside him.

Lita confirmed: “It's harder work but I don't mind working hard. It's a good role to play, I enjoy it.

“I'm playing, I'm happy so it's not a problem for me. I think we've got to look to pass it more and not just launch it.

“But Sibby's a big player for us, too, a very good footballer, and with him in the team we're strong as well.”

City defensive trio Adam Drury, Ryan Bertrand and Elliott Omozusi will all be fit for selection as the Canaries bid for only their second win in eight Championship matches, and their first over Town for more than three years.

With central defender John Kennedy serving a one-match ban for his red card last weekend and Dejan Stefanovic out for the season after a knee operation, either Omozusi or Drury is likely to partner Gary Doherty in the centre of defence.