Town boss Paul Lambert says he had no problem with James Norwood making his wrestling debut on Wednesday night, despite the striker having suffered a groin injury in the MK Dons victory on Tuesday.

“I think the main thing is the charity, Cancer Research. There’s people that have been close to me that have gone through cancer, so that aspect of it is a fantastic cause,” Lambert said when asked about Norwood taking part in the Harwich-based event billed as Norwood Mania.

“On that side of it I don’t think it was wrestling as such, did he make one throw or something like that? So it wasn’t as if he was in there doing these moves and doing whatever these guys do, so I think it’s a fantastic cause.

Norwood has gained the club a lot of positive publicity with his wrestling GIFs, which Lambert views as part of the ongoing attempts at the club to engage with the community.

“As I said before the football club without the Community Trust and the kids not coming back had lost that,” he said.

“And you do need characters in your dressing room on that side of it without a doubt.

"The football club has to entice younger ones back with the trust coming back, which I think is a fabulous thing, and then things like that, as long as it never goes overboard or becomes crazy as such. The club is in a good place on and off the pitch.”

Photo: TWTD

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