New City hero Ched Evans joined the lengthy list of Dion Dublin's admirers as the 38-year-old's influence continues to play its part in City's recent revival.
Held back on the bench on Saturday, Dublin actually arrived as a second-half substitute for the 18-year-old, on-loan Manchester City striker who fresh from scoring his second goal in as many Championship games was afforded a full standing ovation by the Carrow Road faithful on his way to the touchline.
There he was met by the arriving Dublin who took time to have a quick word of congratulation for Evans – as well as working out who did what at corners.
It was the kind of information that did as much as anything to keep those three, vital points in City's hands as the Canary veteran pulled off a fabulous defensive header deep into the game's dying minutes to deny a lurking James Beattie.
“It helps a lot,” said Evans, quizzed as to the 'Dion effect' after his latest goal-scoring outing for his new, part-time employers.
“Dion speaks to me before every game and tells me what I've got to do, tells me to keep playing how I am and he gives me a lot of confidence. So I enjoy being around him – and all the other players as well.”
And that little touchline chat as the two players – with that remarkable 20-year difference in age between them – swapped places, what were Dion's last words?
“It was: 'Well played!' – and good communication. He was just asking what man I had; who he was going to pick up on corners and that.
“So it's good – we're communicating as a team,” said Evans, not the only one to benefit from Dublin's experience.
“He gives advice to all the young boys and it's really good because you need someone to look up to really and you've got Dion there – and he's the sort of man that you can talk to whenever you want and he'll give you good advice because he's had a great career.”
Certainly the Welsh Under-21 would appear to have sharpened up his celebration routine since scoring that opening goal of his Canary career after just three minutes against Plymouth in mid-week.
Then he looked slightly shell-shocked; 'Er, right…. what do I do now…?'
Come Saturday, however, and he had it off to a tee as he went on a charging run and watery slide towards the corner flag in front of the gleeful Snake Pit; that instinctive, twisting volley having given United keeper Paddy Kenny little or no chance as it reared up and in from some eight yards out.
With a little help from the linesman, it was enough to give City their fourth win in five games; 12 huge points that have seen them march out of the bottom three. With away games at Colchester United and Scunthorpe United to come, opportunity continues to knock for a solid-looking mid-table slot by, say, the end of January.
So what was the difference? What was the spark that had lit the Canaries' survival fire?
“Determination,” he said simply. “It's gone from wanting to win to not wanting to lose.
“And all the players have got a good enthusiasm and we just don't want to lose now – that's the last resort.”
To have 24,000-plus Canary fans roaring you on also adds to the sense of new-found togetherness at Carrow Road. The board delivers the head of Martin Taylor on a platter to City boss Glenn Roeder and they, too, may get an invite to the party.
“It's a great feeling – and makes me want to score again,” said Evans, whose 12 goals in eight Premier Reserve League games this season is suddenly being eclipsed by his Championship heroics.
“If I'm lucky enough to get another start, I'll be trying my hardest to score again and help the team win.”
It should all keep a knowing smile on Sven Goran Eriksson's face back at Eastlands knowing that he has another home-grown talent waiting in the wings – be it for the start of next season or the one thereafter.
Reports back in Manchester suggest that the Swede has his heart set on bringing at least two more strikers into the building come January – the ?8 million Peruvian Jefferson Farfan from PSV Eindhoven star might be one; as well as two Brazilians, Afonso Alves at Heerenveen and Inter's out of favour forward Adriano.
All of which leads you to suspect that Master Evans' education will continue for a while longer before he is unleashed on the upper reaches of the Premiership. He has, after all, to muscle his way past the on-loan Ishmael Miller at West Bromwich Albion first – a player three years his senior.
“I think he (Sven) is keeping an eye on my progress, but like I say, I'm happy to score and he'll be happy for me to score as well – as is everyone else it would seem!”
It was, he admitted, all on a different league again from his Premier Reserve League outings this season.
“It's totally better,” he said. “I'd much rather be playing here than at Reserve level.
“It's given me a taste for it. I'm enjoying – and I want more…'
Which wouldn't appear to be much of a problem to Roeder, after his long-standing friendship with both Eriksson and Engalnd Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce yields such fruit in the shape of the free-scoring young Welshman.
“There's not a lot you can say about Ched,” said Roeder, as the youngster continues to write his own script.
“Two starts and he's scored two vital goals for the club.”
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