Sydney van Hooijdonk says he is prepared to bide his time as he tries to establish himself in Norwich City’s promotion-chasing frontline.

Van Hooijdonk came in on the final day of the January transfer window on loan from Bologna – since then the Canaries have taken 10 points from a possible 12 and positioned themselves on the edge of the top-six in the Championship.

Josh Sargent and Ashley Barnes look to be head coach David Wagner’s preferred pair up front, which has restricted van Hooijdonk to three appearances from the bench.

However, the 24-year-old is happy to play the waiting game as in-form City chase the prize of the play-offs.

“I want to get on the pitch, I feel good,” he said. “But like the coach said he, wants me and the fans to be patient and it will come. And I understand that as well.

“You always want to play, more and more, but then on the other side we are doing well and winning.

“It will come, and of course I want it. I came here to play as much as I could but I also came because it is a nice opportunity and we are battling for a play-off place. Starting and game time will come more and more.”

The Dutchman was speaking at a half-time singing event at Jarrold in Norwich alongside women’s team player Alice Parker – an event that last two hours instead of the scheduled one.

The fans have taken to van Hooijdonk, and he has taken to life at Carrow Road.

“Everyone is lovely and that has helped to settle in,” he said. “Everyone is welcoming and it’s nice if you come to a new place and everyone really helps you. I was 20, 21 when I moved to Italy so I am used to it now, it’s not easy to move around all the time – I went on loan for one and a half years then back again and now I am here, but it is part of the football world and I feel quite mature.

“The club have really helped me to settle in and find a house. And it is a real team - we don’t have little groups in it.”