As the season sits in the penultimate week of the 2010-11 season, how many Norwich City players must be wondering what the summer will bring?

There is one youngster I feel sympathy for.

Cody McDonald.

Plucked from total obscurity by Bryan Gunn, McDonald was a scaffolder working for London Transport that enjoyed his weekend football, He started his playing career in the Braintree and North Essex league, playing for Valley Swifts.

He progressed through Whitham and Maldon Town before signing for Isthmian League Premier Division outfit, Dartford.

In January, 2009, McDonald was invited to a two day trial at Colney, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Scoring on his debut, coming on as substitute against, guess who? Cardiff. And scoring in added on time.

And no City supporter will forget the time that Cody stood in as goalkeeper in the Carling Cup tie against Sunderland in August, 2009. Paul Lambert had made all three substitutions as Norwich chased for a result when 'keeper, Ben Alnwick clashed with Sunderland's Frazer Campbell, and needed to go off.

The youngster took the gloves and kept a clean sheet for his efforts, gaining the admiration of the supporters at the same time.

In a summertime transfer window bid to entice Gillingham into letting Simeon Jackson move to Norwich, Paul Lambert made a cash + player offer; that player was Cody McDonald who, in all fairness, needed games and experience of the professional set-up that he wouldn't have received at Colney, due to his lack of experience.

The move has paid off for all parties concerned. Simeon Jackson has now found his scoring confidence, getting his second hat trick in three games in the recent win over Derby, taking his season tally to 12.

Cody McDonald has given Paul Lambert much to think about. With two games to go, the lad has already been chosen as the fans player of the season, with 24 goals to his name. Simeon Jackson only managed 20.

Now, if there was room for sentiment in football, Cody McDonald would retain his status at Norwich as a contracted player. After all, he has more than matched Simeon Jackson's record at Priestfield.

Besides, Gillingham could just make it to league One next season, and Cody could spend another season with the Kent outfit but at Championship level to see if he can again, match Simeon Jackson's record, but at that higher level.

Then, even if it is decided not to keep him, his resale value will have gone up considerably.

Photo: Action Images

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