Simeon Jackson scored the second hat trick of his season against Derby on Saturday, silencing everybody that ever complained that he wasn't good enough for this level.

Six goals in five games, what a relief for him, and what a smack in the face for those critics giving him a hard time. And I take my punishment gladly.

In all honesty, it seemed as though Paul Lambert may have got things wrong when he did a deal with Gillingham, offering Cody McDonald on a season long loan plus cash in return for signing Canadian International, Simeon Jackson.

As Cody McDonald is doing down in Kent, scoring for fun, so did Simeon Jackson last season. It looked like a leap of faith that backfired.

Unable to secure a place in the starting line-up for much of the season, Jacko came on as a sub and his fresh legs helped to open up a tiring defence for the more regular scorers.

A couple of goals earlier in the season hardly helped his cause, but it was after coming on as a substitute against Scunthorpe when Jacko found his confidence return.

Hardly any need to remind Norwich fans that Grant Holt was substituted after his hat trick against the relegated (almost) Irons; Simeon Jackson came on and picked up where Grant Holt left off.

His hat trick then might have been eclipsed by the iconic Grant Holt's earlier contribution, but it was Jacko's hat trick against Derby that kept Norwich in the second automatic promotion place. And the gap between us and QPR narrowed to a position where Norwich could still go up as Champions for a second season.

Back to Simeon Jackson and the Derby game. His goals were of ecstatic proportions. The first involved excellent play at so high a speed that all attempts by Derby to deny us a look at goal seemd superfluous.

His second, what incerdibly quick thinking to look up from his run to see the Derby keeper coming out to close him down and then just casually (almost) lobbing the ball over his head.

The thrid? Well, many will call it a lucky goal. But who was in the right place at the right time? Jacko, that's who. AS so many footballers are apt to say, you make your own luck in thid game.

What a time to find your confidence and start scoring for fun. Keep it up, Jacko, take us up, up, up.

Photo: Action Images

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