Ex-City striker Aaron Wilbraham reflects on Canaries spell

The striker joined City during their second promotion campaign in the Championship, with Paul Lambert signing him partially due to his goal-scoring exploits against his teams for MK Dons. 

With Grant Holt at the peak of his powers at Carrow Road, Lambert pursued Wilbraham to provide fierce competition and offer a similar alternative to the powerful former number nine. 

Wilbraham arrived at Norwich after spending six years at MK Dons and having never played above the third tier of English football. Then 31, the striker had watched other, and often younger, team mates get opportunities higher up the ladder and thought his chance had gone before City came calling. 

"He took me in as a backup to Grant Holt to keep him on his toes and push him because I'm a similar type of target man. I went in and relished that chance.

"Being 31 or 32, it was great to be involved in a promotion run-in in the Championship," Wilbraham recounts fondly. 

"I played in the game at Leicester away when my back went the day before in training. Paul Lambert begged me to play because he wanted to play Holty and me up front with Wes Hoolahan in behind.

"I was in so much pain that I remember looking up at the scoreboard after one minute, thinking, '89 to go'; that's how much pain I was in. I managed to score, and we won 3-2. It was a big three points, but I got off the bus at the training ground in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and I couldn't move.

"I went to London for surgery the next day. That is how bad it is. I was ruled out for the season. Then I became the biggest fan in Carrow Road because I wanted to get promoted to the Premier League so much."

Wilbraham made only 12 appearances in the tail-end of the Championship campaign before injury derailed his campaign on that night at Leicester. 

Aaron Wilbraham played through the pain barrier during a famous 3-2 win at Leicester. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) Many would have written Wilbraham's prospects of involvement at Carrow Road off after promotion to the Premier League - especially given the roster of attacking options available to Lambert during that period. 

But knowing it would likely be his only opportunity to play in the Premier League, Wilbraham explains how he viewed that situation as one to grasp rather than meekly accept. 

"When we did get promoted to the Premier League, I realised that being 32, turning 33, I needed to be proper on my game to have any chance of being involved in the team.

"I knew they were going to make signings. When everyone else went away on holiday, I trained all summer," the former striker said. 

"Paul Lambert probably wasn't thinking that I was going to be in his plans - we had Grant Holt, Simeon Jackson, Steve Morison, Wes Hoolahan, James Vaughan and Chrissy Martin - but I came back in good condition even though I was about seventh choice. I was determined not to let the chance to play in the Premier League go.

"I scored eight in pre-season, which put me in good stead. I wasn't involved in the squad for the opening game at Wigan, but after that, I was involved for the rest of the season.

"I put pressure on myself to get involved. I didn't start a lot of games, but I came on in quite a few and felt like I contributed well."

Wilbraham's only Premier League goal for City was the 100th of his career. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) Almost romantically, Wilbraham's only Premier League goal for City happened to coincide with a major milestone to mark a career of graft that propelled him into the top division for the Canaries against the odds. 

"I was 99 career goals when I got into the Premier League - so to score my 100th for Norwich in the Premier League at Fulham was an unbelievable feeling," he said. "Just to be able to say that you've scored in all the top four leagues and been promoted up the four leagues was a great feeling.

"I don't like losing - but to score in the Premier League was a special moment and one that I'll never forget."

Wilbraham only made 28 appearances for Norwich. His goal at Fulham in the Premier League was his second, but also his last before he left the club after Lambert's controversial exit to Aston Villa.

Yet, he was a popular figure within the dressing room and, eventually, became a cult hero amongst supporters who labelled him as 'Wilbrahamovic' during his time at Carrow Road. 

Wilbraham mentions that supporter-imposed tag unprompted during a 30-minute conversation reflecting on his spell in Norfolk, and felt it was a positive reflection of his attitude and work ethic. 

"I'd been at other clubs where sometimes, if you were in the team and others weren't, you'd see them acting a bit bitter, and it's never good for the group.

"I just thought that if I was as good around the place as I can when I'm not in the team, then it says a lot about my character, so when I get in the team, people will want me to do well. It's the feeling that I had.

Wilbraham formed a strong relationship with City supporters. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) "Sometimes, as a fan looking in, you can look at the players and judge their personalities based on what they do on the pitch.

"In the second season at Norwich, I felt that love from the fans. I got myself in the best condition of my career, which showed on the pitch.

"They probably weren't expecting much from me being in the Premier League, but I found it easier with the aggressive hold-up play because where I'd been getting kicked to bits in League Two and One - all of a sudden in the Premier League, you were playing defenders who didn't fancy getting a cut eye so I was going in.

"Then the backheels started coming out, and they nicknamed me 'Wilbrahamovic'. It gave me confidence that I had that relationship with the fans and I loved coming on at Carrow Road knowing they liked me. I felt the fans appreciated me and we've got on well ever since."