Cody has the raw ingredients of a top striker, says Gunn

CODY McDONALD says moving into the professional ranks with Norwich City is “the biggest achievement any young person can achieve,” writes Stephen McCartney.

The Essex based striker has this afternoon penned an eighteen-month contract with Championship club Norwich City, having left Ryman Premier League Dartford for “an undisclosed fee.”

McDonald formed an excellent partnership with 33-year-old target man, Rob Haworth, and as a result banged in 19 goals in 20 games for the Kent club.

McDonald impressed Canaries’ boss Bryan Gunn during a two-day trial last week and Gunn made his mind up on Saturday, having attended the Darts 1-0 win over Maidstone United at Princes Park.

It was just a shame that the Princes Park faithful didn’t really give their hero the same send off as they gave Dave Martin two years ago before his £25,000 (plus other benefits) move to Crystal Palace two years ago.

McDonald limped off after 68 minutes due to a swollen calf and a whack above the knee.

“I am glad that all the terms got sorted,” McDonald told www.canaries.co.uk.

“It is the biggest achievement any young person can achieve. The chance to work with the likes of Bryan (Gunn) is brilliant and hopefully I can bring my goals to the team and do well for Norwich City.”

McDonald interested a number of League clubs - eleven scouts attended Saturday’s game - but McDonaldd chose to sign for the Norfolk outfit.

He said: “Meeting with Bryan after the game on Saturday and being invited to Colney for a couple of days last week to train was an amazing experience for me and that made my mind up.”

Norwich boss Gunn is naturally pleased to have fought off stiff competition to land the prolific striker.



WELCOME: Norwich City boss Bryan Gunn hands Cody McDonald his shirt having arrived on an undisclosed fee from Dartford, where he banged in 19 goals in 17 starts for the Kent club.
Photograph courtesy of www.canaries.co.uk

"I am absolutely delighted to be able to bring Cody to the club,” Gunn told www.canaries.co.uk  - the club’s official website.

“We have been watching him for a number of months now, a recommendation from one of Paul Stephenson’s friends in the London area.

“We sent scouts along to watch him in different games and kept getting very positive reports back.

“Obviously Cody was scoring lots of goals, so we knew his goalscoring prowess but I went along to watch the game on Saturday against Maidstone United and I saw a different side to him that the other scouts had seen.

“I saw a brave player who wasn’t afraid to go in where it hurts, we’re delighted he has passed his medical and is going to be a Norwich City player.

“He’s got an eye for goal and pace, which in modern football is crucial. Behind the scenes we can work on his fitness levels as he’ll be coming out of part-time football to train everyday but we can work on that and he has the raw ingredients of a top striker.

“I think that was evident with the number of scouts that were at the game last weekend and we agreed terms with Dartford after the game and then with Cody later.”

Quotes and photograph courtesy of www.canaries.co.uk

Naturally, www.kentishfootball.co.uk wish Cody McDonald all the very best in his professional career - as do all the Dartford supporters that you impressed during your short stay at Princes Park.