Carney's Set Piece Cracker

as seen on au.fourfourtwo.com

Socceroo David Carney staked a claim for a first team start at Norwich City this weekend after rifling home a cracking free-kick and setting up another goal for the club's second string.

Carney has struggled for game time since making a loan switch from Sheffield United but he was given another chance to boost his match fitness last night as the Canaries reserves took on non-league Yarmouth in a friendly.

The Socceroo curled home a terrific free-kick while fellow Aussie Adrian Leijer planted a header against a post.

City coach Ian Crook, who was Newcastle Jets technical director until a few weeks ago, told Norwich paper the Pink 'Un: "It was a good exercise. It gave a number of players game time who have been short of it."

Carney played 71 minutes of the match with Leijer putting in a full shift for the Canaries.

The Australian international missed out on Norwich's 1-1 draw with Burnley last Saturday in the Championship but Gunn explained Carney's absence was a result of picking up a knock in training on Friday.

Carney had passed a fitness test on the Saturday, but Norwich boss Bryan Gunn believed he wasn't worth the risk.

Nonetheless, Gunn clearly believes Carney has something to offer the Canaries and his stunning 25-yard peach of a free-kick in the reserves would only reiterate that thought in the Norwich gaffer's mind.

Speaking in reference to missing out at Burnley, Gunn said: "David's disappointed. And that's something that I need to be aware of as a manager.

"And it is difficult. You've got 16 players that you can get into a shirt on a Saturday and there will be plenty of players that will be disappointed."

Gunn added: "We've got 12 games left, there will be knocks, there will be bumps and bruises I'm sure between now and the end of the season.

"And, obviously, we have got a player who will be leaving us in the next two weeks in Jonathan Grounds, so we will have opportunities for wide, left-sided players."

Gunn's comments suggest Carney, who barely got a run for Sheffield United earlier in the season, could be in line for a game this Saturday when Norwich entertain Coventry City at Carrow Road in the Championship.