Leon wants Home goal

[Huckerbys right foot]

NORWICH CITY hot-shot Leon McKenzie today revealed he could have a special goal celebration up his sleeve – or under his shirt – if he manages to break his Carrow Road duck against Wigan Athletic on Friday (5.30pm).

The 25-year-old Canary striker, renowned for his celebratory T-shirt motifs at Peterborough, has bagged six goals in just 12 appearances – only seven of them starts - since signing from Posh in December for £325,000, but has yet to score in front of his home crowd.

So McKenzie would love to score his first goal at home against the Latics who, along with Easter Monday opponents Reading, once vied with City for the goal-getter's services.

"I'm not bothered by the fact that I haven't scored at home. It's just one of those things and I'm sure that it will happen before too long," said McKenzie.

"No one has to worry that I haven't scored at home yet. It just hasn't happened for me for one reason or another, but the goals I have scored have all been important," added McKenzie, who admits he has waited to settle in at City before producing one of his trademark celebrations.

"I've got some pictures from my daughter Mariya's Christening and I'm thinking about getting some prints done but we'll have to wait and see."

Croydon-born McKenzie, who wrote himself into Canary folklore following his double strike in the derby at Portman Road on his debut, has spearheaded an attack bristling with firepower of late following a spell on the sidelines.

And although on paper it looks like a 4-4-2 with McKenzie partnered up front by Swede Mathias Svensson, in reality, with Darren Huckerby free to lurk menacingly from the left of midfield, the formation takes on a far more attacking 4-3-3 shape.

It is a positive move from manager Nigel Worthington, who is clearly hoping to get the points on the board as soon as possible to assure automatic promotion, and one to which McKenzie gives his full backing.

He declared: "At the end of the day, the manager is a very positive person and this is shown in his team selection. Whatever the manager decides to go with I'm happy.

"The game on Saturday was real end-to-end stuff, full of action, but the most important thing was that we came away with the three points."

McKenzie recognises that wins in the Easter double-header against Wigan and Reading are vital and if secured, promotion to the Premiership will be almost assured.

"The next two games are massive for us," said McKenzie. "If we can win these next two then I'd say we would be there or thereabouts but it's down to us, no one else. It's in our hands."

McKenzie has also been able to give his Carrow Road team-mates the inside line on a player many see as the heartbeat of the Wigan team in Jimmy Bullard, having both served under Posh boss Barry Fry.

"He's a very energetic player, very lively and gets it going at the heart of their midfield," said McKenzie. "He makes things happen but I'm sure that Gary Holt or Damien Francis, or whoever's in there, will be able to deal with it."