SIMON Lappin showed off his attacking instincts in spectacular style in midweek, but the midfielder could be called into defensive action against Southampton on Saturday (kick off 3pm).

The former St Mirren man grabbed his first Norwich goal at Carrow Road in the 5-2 Carling Cup win against Barnet with a 30-yard scorcher.

But with left-back Adam Drury struggling to be fit for the Saints' game with an ankle injury, Lappin could be forced to cover for him in the back four.

It's a position Lappin has played for the Canaries previously when called upon, but the 24-year-old said he was just pleased to get off the mark at his home ground.

"Yeah, it was nice to see it fly in," said Lappin, whose other effort came in the last minute of the dramatic 3-2 win at Luton last season. "But the most important thing on the night was to get into the next round of the cup and we managed to do that.

"The manager is always saying to me to get into that area and have a shot at goal, because if you don't shoot you don't score, and it was nice to see it fly in. But it's not about my goal, it's about getting the result and getting into the next round of the cup."

Lappin seemed as surprised as anyone when his shot finished in the top corner, and took a few seconds before deciding how to celebrate.

"Yeah, I didn't know what to do," admitted Lappin, who joined from the SPL side in January. "I've not scored many of them, but I'm delighted with it."

City flew into a half time 5-0 lead, with Jamie Cureton (2), Mark Fotheringham and Darel Russell adding to Lappin's pile-driver. But after the break it was a different story, as Barnet piled on the pressure and deservedly grabbed two consolation goals.

That second 45 minutes infuriated manager Peter Grant, who accused his side of lacking professionalism. And Lappin said lessons needed to be learned in time for the weekend.

"I thought we were excellent in the first half with our attacking play," he said. "But it was a disappointing second half and it's something for us to work on and improve on it.

"We let it slip. We let it drop. It's hard to put your finger on it, but that's something for us to work on and make it better. It was disappointing from our point of view but it's something we need to learn from. A game isn't 45 minutes, it's 90 minutes."

Lappin may yet be asked to deputise for Drury in defence, who is just one of Grant's injury worries as he prepares for the visit of George Burley's side. Julien Brellier is struggling with stiffness after seeing his pre-season disrupted by a thigh strain, while Darren Huckerby will again be absent with his niggling groin problem.

Long-term injury victim Jimmy Smith is also absent as he continues his rehabilitation from the ankle injury suffered on the pre-season tour of Holland.

Grant said the Canaries were unlucky to see Smith, who signed on-loan from Chelsea until the end of December, until the middle of September at the earliest, but admitted it would be like having a new signing when he was fit again.

"He's going ok," said Grant, when asked about the young midfielder's progress. "We said he'd be at least four weeks in the boot which he has to wear, so we knew that anyway. But we speak to him twice a week and myself and Neal (Reynolds) keep in contact with Chelsea just letting us know his progress, so they've been excellent to deal with.

"But he's just desperate to get back to playing and desperate to get back down here. So that's great, and he'll be like a new signing for us when he's fully fit because he gives us something different."