Pilkington class puts him on Trap radar

IF Ireland can overcome Estonia next month, expect Giovanni Trapattoni to run the rule over some new faces for his squad for Euro 2012.

One of those new faces could be hiding out in the Norfolk countryside, as Anthony Pilkington is making a name for himself at Norwich.

A former Republic Under-21 international, the £2 million summer signing from Huddersfield bounced back from his Old Trafford nightmare by firing the Canaries to victory in Saturday’s win over Swansea at Carrow Road.

Two weeks ago Pilkington missed a glorious chance to put Norwich ahead against Manchester United and then went on to hit the post in the second half before the Barclays Premier League newcomers eventually succumbed 2-0.

The 23-year-old was far more ruthless in front of goal on Saturday, however, taking just 50 seconds to put the Canaries ahead before sealing the victory with a close-range strike after making room for himself with a clever turn in the box.

Lambert’s men were far superior on Saturday, with Pilkington and striker Steve Morison the star performers against a Swansea team whose threat fizzled away after they pulled one back through Danny Graham following Russell Martin’s strike, which had put the hosts 2-0 up.

“I’ve seen the chance I missed at United a few times. It was painful watching it,” Pilkington said.

“But everyone misses chances. Everyone is human. It’s how you bounce back from that.

“The gaffer said just keep doing your stuff and the goals will come and luckily they have.

“I have been grateful that I had the chance to put it right after 48 seconds. I wasn’t going to miss that one.”

Pilkington’s route to playing top-flight football has been a roller coaster one.

After beginning his career in non-league football with Stockport, two years ago he was plucked from obscurity by Huddersfield, where he starred in the club’s League One campaign before breaking his leg towards the end of the season.

The youngster bounced back from the injury and put in a series of impressive displays which persuaded Norwich to take a gamble on him this summer.

Pilkington, who is now the Canaries’ top scorer with three goals, is loving life at the top.

“You can’t beat the feeling of scoring in the Premier League,” he said. “I’ve scored goals at grounds where there wasn’t even a crowd behind the goal. There was nothing apart from grass, trees or houses.

“I have worked really hard and it’s all paying off now.

“It’s been a big step up for me and it’s one that I like to think I’m thriving on.

“I love playing against the big teams in the big stadiums.”

Norwich boss Paul Lambert was quick to praise the mental toughness of Pilkington, who has also had to deal with the trauma of coming back from a broken leg he suffered while playing for Huddersfield last term.

“What Pilkington does with his deliveries and his influence on the team is excellent,” Lambert said.

“To get two goals after a horrendous leg break and what happened at Old Trafford, he will be delighted.

“There was a little bit of pressure after what happened a fortnight ago so to come back and do it in front of your own fans the way he did was terrific.”

Lambert has now collected 11 points from the club’s first eight Barclays Premier League matches.

The Canaries are looking anything but the relegation certainties they were labelled when they were promoted from the npower Championship last season.

The Scot was happy to see his men come away with three points after the opportunities they missed against the champions a fortnight ago. “I thought we were excellent from start to finish today,” he said.

“Swansea shook us a bit when they scored that goal, but apart from that, I thought we were excellent.

“In many ways playing Swansea was a lot tougher than Manchester United because we weren’t expected to get anything from Old Trafford.

“Swansea are a good side. [Manager] Brendan Rodgers has got them playing well. They are a really top side.”

Rodgers felt his side’s poor defending cost the Welshmen dearly.

The Swans, who were searching for their first top-flight away win since 1982, were guilty of slack marking for all three goals, the worst being the second, which Martin was allowed to head home unmarked to make it 2-0 in the ninth minute.

“I thought they were 2-0 before we got going,” Rodgers said.

“I thought offensively we looked bright, clever and threatening, but defensively we were disappointing and we are usually solid at the back.

“We just had one of those days.”