CITY striker Jamie Cureton has benefited from the wonders of modern healthcare and is pushing for a return to first team action against Leicester this weekend.

The 32-year-old had an operation to remove his appendix just eight days ago. Years ago, and the procedure might have left the player on the sidelines for months rather than weeks.

But Norwich's eight-goal leading scorer was back doing light training yesterday, a week after having intricate keyhole surgery.

"We've pencilled in Barnsley, but if I can push for Saturday I will," said Cureton, who fell ill two days before the 1-0 win over Preston, but played through the pain-barrier as a second half substitute. "It just depends on how my body feels so I'll give it my best shot.

"It set me back a bit. But it feels ok, and I've done a run today and it feels a bit tender, but I think I've played with worse so at the moment I'm alright."

The game against Ian Holloway's struggling Foxes may still come too soon for Cureton, with boss Glenn Roeder likely to adopt a cautious approach with his strikers, particularly with so few already at his disposal.

However, news that Cureton is on the mend again gives Roeder a boost as he looks to continue the good vein of form which has seen City fans forgetting about a relegation fight and focussing on a push for the play-offs.

With Cureton sidelined, teenager Ched Evans has been tasked with filling his scoring boots, and has so far done more than a decent job. His brace at Cardiff at the weekend made it six since arriving at Carrow Road on loan from Manchester City in November - as many as Cureton has managed in the league all season.

And the former Colchester man said he was determined to get back in action as soon as possible and put pressure on Evans for a place in the first team again.

"I did a 20-minute run and it feels alright," said Cureton. "The pain doesn't feel too bad. I've probably played with worse pain injury-wise.

"Things have changed and things have moved forward and they wont let you lie around for long. I'm not one of them, I hate being in the treatment room so if I can get out as quick as possible I will. I'll be pushing them as much as I can to let me out and train, so we'll see."

The appendix operation came completely out of the blue for Cureton. He began feeling unwell the Thursday before the match with the Lilywhites, but had simply assumed he was suffering with a virus. It was only after his health deteriorated over the weekend that it was decided a trip to the hospital was necessary.

"I fell ill on the Thursday and made the decision on the Saturday to play," he said. "So I put myself up to play and came on and felt ok and everyone said I looked pretty sharp, so obviously the appendix must have done something. But as soon as the game finished I felt quite weak and on Sunday I was literally in agony. I didn't sleep. Came in Monday and they sent me for a scan and Monday night I had an op, so it was a bit of a shock to be honest.

"I felt that I probably just had an illness or something and that it'd pass through, but obviously come Monday afternoon I was told I was having an op Monday night. It was a bit of a shock and I felt a bit worried because I didn't know how long it'd keep me out for.

"They were saying three weeks, some were saying two. It was obviously disappointing because I'm trying to work my way into the team again and it was another set-back. But coming in today and it feels alright and I'm a bit more positive."