Town striker Macauley Bonne has spoken of his delight that James Norwood has come in from the cold to partner him up front recently.

Norwood was training with the club’s U23 squad during ex-manager Paul Cook’s time in charge and it was interim manager John McGreal who took the decision to end the player’s exile and restore him to the senior squad.

Norwood, the club’s top scorer in each of his first two seasons at the club, netted after coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Wigan and then made it two in as many league games when he headed the Blues in front against Sunderland last week in a game that also ended in stalemate and with the same scoreline.

QPR loanee Bonne, who has gone nine games without adding to his impressive 11-goal tally, turned provider against the Black Cats when his deflected cross sat up perfectly for Norwood to head Town in front in first-half stoppage time.

Bonne smiled: “I love the guy! We were screaming out for someone like him in the team and in the squad. Now he’s here we are hoping we can utilise him and whether it’s me and him, or whoever plays in the games alongside him, he can do a great job for us.

“I like the thought of me and Nors playing together because we’ve both been around the block.

“We’ve both been playing non-league football and had to graft our way up to the league. We’ve both got that same hunger about us to play as well and for as long as possible.

“We’ve got so much in common and it is massively important. We’re from the same place and we both know how hard it is playing in non-league football, so now we’re here in League One with Ipswich we are not going to waste the opportunity we have been given.

“Also, we’ve both got that streetwise ability — we’re both physical and like to have a bit of fun on the pitch — and we’re a couple of wind-up merchants. It’s why we get on so well off the pitch as well.”

Only time will tell whether Bonne and Norwood continue in tandem up front for new boss Kieran McKenna but the impact on the sport of the coronavirus pandemic is another major concern right now, with Town's Boxing Day game at Gillingham among a host of postponements over the Christmas and New Year period.

Asked how worried he was about the situation, speaking prior to confirmation that the trip to the Priestfield Stadium is off, Bonne replied: “I’m a bit of both and everyone has their own opinion. If games go ahead they go ahead and if they get cancelled what can you do about it? It’s a global pandemic that affects a lot more besides football.

“Everyone in the world is affected and if football can go ahead it’s a bit of a bonus. But if it’s cancelled that’s something we have to deal with. There’s nothing we can do about it — well, there is, we’ve got to be very careful.

“We can’t control what the government says and you’ve got to take it one step at the time, haven’t you?

“We speak about it a lot amongst the players and of course we’re worried about it. Because we’re footballers people probably don’t think we speak about this kind of stuff but when we come in for training every day we’re friends so we speak about the same things and chat about what’s going on in the world.

“We keep it as real as possible but when we go out on the pitch it’s only football that matters.”

Bonne and fiancée Chloe recently went public with an Instagram post in which it was revealed that she had suffered three miscarriages after the couple decided they wanted to start a family.

He said: “It has been a tough time for both of us and we thought people needed to know what has been going on in our lives, so it’s out there now. I didn’t want it to get as big as it did, just for people to know, so the fact that it got into the papers was a bit of a shock for the missus and me.

“But when something like that gets out I suppose that’s what is going to happen. I’m supporting her and we’re very much together in this so it’s something that we’re going to work on together.”

Asked if football helped him to cope during such a difficult emotional time, Bonne added: “Yes and no. Sometimes there’s nothing that can help you to deal with it. I was doing my own thing, she was doing her own thing, trying to find a way of dealing with it, and now we feel we’re getting somewhere with it.”

Photo: Matchday Images

EricsGate added 06:49 - Dec 23 Everyone is behind you and we all support you in and off the pitch. The goals will come
27

BlueRuin69 added 07:45 - Dec 23 One of our own........Coyb
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mathiemagic added 08:14 - Dec 23 If the partnership flourishes will the new boss take Nors off the transfer list or will the owners stand by their decision. Time will tell who really wears the trousers when it comes to what players stay and who go.
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Edmundo added 08:21 - Dec 23 It's a major concern that we could be without both of these guys come Feb 1st
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ArnieM added 08:43 - Dec 23 If love MB. He's down to earth and a solid , honest professional. I hope we get him permanently 🤞
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BeattiesBackPocket added 08:48 - Dec 23 Hope I'm wrong but I still don't see why people are pinning hopes on Norwood he's still at his age unproven at this level the most he's scored is 11 goals for us in a season in league one is that really prolific enough for us to get promoted? Yet some on here moan about Piggot who is proven at this level in a poor side last season as well. I love norwoods tenacity and he does give us something different we don't have up front and he is a threat but he's yet to show us he's the messiah like some people on here think he is. Let's also not forget he's on his second drink driving charge and yes some people make mistakes and shouldn't be lambasted for them but it's not his first time meaning he's probably been drink driving more than he's been caught for so again cannot blame owners or whoever it is for sticking him on the transfer list as it's not the example kids or anyone should have.

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Saxonblue74 added 09:33 - Dec 23 Seems such a nice guy and a good professional, I wish him all the best. If the new gaffer sees enough in him and Nors then I've no doubt they'll be here to stay, kmK has come to run the team, not have "on pitch" decisions made for him.
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peewee added 10:02 - Dec 23 Norwood should be given another chance but put on a mega short lead. He needs to keep his fitness up, cut out the drinking and stay off social media. Club needs to come first got 3 years so left of his career
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pennblue added 10:08 - Dec 23 BeattiesBackPocket I don't think anyone is pinning all our hopes on Norwood. But he does deliver, he has come back and scored goals. There are a lot players that talk a good game, but don't deliver. Norwood has never been one of those players, and his attitude to games inspires other players too imo, he leads by example.
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bringmeaKuqi added 10:35 - Dec 23 "We were screaming out for someone like him in the team and in the squad." It's not a ringing endorsement of Pigott is it? I assume Bonne is referring to Norwood's streetwise approach and not his centreforward play, but it's hard not to read these comments as an assessment of what Pigott does or does not bring to the party. He has been a bit toothless for us.
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timkatieadamitfc added 10:40 - Dec 23 Great post peewee, short career and in his 30s now so needs to make most of short time left. Whatever anyone thinks of him he scored goals, beattiesbackpocket - the Ipswich team he has been top scorer for 2 seasons has hardly been a good team has it. Keep him fit, keep him in team with 2 up top and get us up the table hopefully
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Linkboy13 added 11:08 - Dec 23 Didn't think i would say this but we need to keep Norwood. Pigott has been a massive disappointment for me lacking passion and commitment. Perhaps he's just not settled in the area can see him moving on and then we can bring someone else in. When you sign nineteen new players there's always going to be some that don't come off for one reason or another.
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blues1 added 11:14 - Dec 23 Linkboy13. How has piggott been a disappointment? He's hardly played. Needs a run of games before anyone can judge him at all. 30 mins here, and there isn't gonna get him up to speed.
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blues1 added 11:18 - Dec 23 Beattiesbackpocket. Norwood was top scorer for 2 seasons running despite only playing for half the season each time. And most of the time he was playing he was carrying an injury. I'd say he's proved himself just by that. But yes, does need to play for a whole season to really show what he can do. Hopefully he can get his head down and concentrate on his football and the owners wil decide to forgive his misdemeanours off the pitch. Imo a fully fit and firing Norwood, would be a great asset for us.

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timkatieadamitfc added 11:41 - Dec 23 Agreed blues1, how anyone can say he's been a massive disappointment when he's played hardly any games is beyond me, should stick with Norwood, Bonne and piggott and rotate those 3 accordingly, giving them all regular games and able to form partnerships, with lots of games now coming up and with the odd injury/suspension this should not be a problem
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ChrisFelix added 11:48 - Dec 23 I would prefer to see Pigott & Norwood together. Bonne & the later are to similar. I also feel that Bonne has missed many simple chances all season including several one on one with the keeper. Also it should not be forgotten that Norwoods fitness since he joined us has been awful
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Nobbysnuts added 13:27 - Dec 23 Beattiesbackpocket..... get off Norwoods back and give him a break...I suppose your one of the dozzell lovers who as you have probably conveniently forgot was driving whilst being on drugs yet everyone still loved him. Great role model to Andre. People in glass houses........
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KiwiTractor added 20:25 - Dec 23 Pigott has had 9 starts and 10 off the bench, and in too many of the games when he has started, he has been poor. he just hasn't put his hand up to say I'm worthy of a run of games. Biggest disappointment of all our summer signings for me.
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istanblue added 22:12 - Dec 23 Everyone loves Norwood! #ToldYouSo
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BeattiesBackPocket added 12:21 - Dec 24 Pennblue I'm in no way disputing that I love seeing him ruffle up defenders and he gives us something different but I don't think and he's still to prove himself at this level 11 goals in a season isn't prolific. I hope he bangs in 20 plus goals I really do but I can't see it
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BeattiesBackPocket added 12:24 - Dec 24 Timkatieadam no you're right we've been a poor side in recent seasons but wasn't piggot in a poor side as well but still notched up 20 plus goals in that poor side that finished below us even. As I've said I love what he brings to the side but I don't think he's the 20 goal a season answer we desperately need
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BeattiesBackPocket added 12:26 - Dec 24 Blues1 he scored 11 goals in 35 games one season again all I'm saying is he's not prolific is he SO FAR at this level and we need someone who is or we will struggle to get promoted. Yet people bash piggot on here when he's not had a fair crack of games but IS PROVEN at this level scoring 20 plus goals for a poor side
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BeattiesBackPocket added 12:28 - Dec 24 Nobbysnuts wtf you on about? People in glass houses I don't drink and drive? Your assumptions on here are a joke I don't condone Dozzells either maybe if he was drink driving and ran into someone or killed someone you'd still feel the same? Get a grip once yes a mistake twice means he's doing it a lot again not a role model so give your contradictions and assumptions a break

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Eeyore added 17:11 - Dec 27 I have said this before. In his first game for Town, Norwood was absolutely brilliant. Am I the only Town fan to notice that he has NEVER repeated that performance? He is nowhere near the standard we need. I also maintain that Jackson is at best Vanorama National league level. (If someone has seen him have an outstanding game for us then please state the time and place).

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