Loan signing No9 for the season was busily looking forward to his Carrow Road 'debut' tomorrow – some 15 months since he last appeared for the home side in Norfolk.
On that occasion and Leroy Lita had the three lions of England on his chest as he scored the fifth and final goal for Stuart Pearce's Under-21s in a crushing 5-0 victory over Slovakia.
After all the trials and defensive tribulations of this week, City boss Glenn Roeder would certainly settle for a repeat of that scoreline against a slowly improving Derby County side. And if Lita's name found its way onto the scoresheet again, so much the better.
The master of the loan market would have done wonders again. As has, in fairness, local businessman Carl Moore who – the club revealed tonight – has stepped in again to bank-roll a player's arrival.
The last time it was for Darren Huckerby; whether Lita can have a similar, lasting effect remains to be seen. But it proves, at least, that there is still the money – and the individuals – out there to make a difference to Norwich's fortunes.
“What made me want to come here? The manager, really,” said Lita, as he met the Press for the first time since his short-term, mid-week switch from Reading.
“He [Roeder] spoke to my agent and he was desperate for me to come down. I wasn't playing at Reading, so it was an easy decision.”
Speaking earlier Roeder had revealed that having trailed Lita for at least a month, the “breakthrough” came in a phone call before the 2-0 mid-week defeat at Southampton.
What happened thereafter merely underlined to the manager just why he needed someone of Lita's ilk in the building and the deal was duly finalised on Wednesday morning.
The fact that the switch also got Lita back out and playing again suited all parties – particularly if both player and club alike have one eye on the forthcoming transfer window. Time to get him out in the shop window.
“It has been a frustrating start for me this season,” said Lita, with Kevin Doyle having long since stolen much of his strike thunder.
“I have been struggling to get in, but I've got a chance to play now and I'm looking forward to it.”
His aim is quite straight-forward. To repeat his 84th minute feat for the Under-21s and light up Carrow Road with a goal or two.
“That's my aim – to hopefully score some goals,” he said. “And help the team push on.
“I know the fans here are desperate for their team to do well – and the manager and everyone else around the place is as well. So, hopefully, I can be a part of that.”
From such decent highs – 14 goals in his first season in the Premiership; that Under-21 strike at Carrow Road – Lita's own career is equally in need of a little kick-start; a certain pep-me-up. Again, hopefully, this week's move can suit both parties.
“It was a good little experience down here for me,” said Lita, as he looked back at that Under-21 outing. “We trained here as well which was good.”
It wasn't the only reason he came – City may have Alex Pearce to thank, too, for loan No9.
“I had a look at everything and I spoke with my people, my friends, my family. And they all said it was a good thing for me to come down here and play – it's a good club.
“And I spoke to Alex Pearce who was here last season on loa and he really enjoyed it. And he said: 'Go down there… you'll really enjoy it…' So I'm here.”
He hadn't as yet reached for his crystal ball; he wasn't yet looking to what might lie beyond tomorrow's home clash with the Rams.
“I haven't looked beyond tomorrow, to be honest,” he said. “I'm just looking forward to playing again and we'll take it from there. Each game as it cmes. Hopefully, I'll do well for the team; help them push on and then we'll see from there.”
Again, he insisted that it wasn't a hard decision to make; there was no-one twisting his arm.
“It's a big club and everyone knows the potential that it's got so it wasn't a hard decision for me,” said Lita. Certainly last season's loan spell with Charlton yielded fruit as he bagged three goals from his appearances.
With a fortnight's gap between his first and second City games, as tings currently stand Lita will struggle to get eight games in a Norwich shirt; he will be back down to Reading straight after the Burnley game on November 1. Time enough, however, to add a shot of confidence and menace to City's struggling front-line.
The one and only familiar face was that of the man he is likely to keep out of the side – Jamie Cureton.
“I played with Jamie Cureton in a park,” he laughed. “He's from Bristol and when I was at Bristol City we played in a little off-season tournament. Obviously, we shouldn't have…”
Yep, that'll be Jamie…
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