TWO of Norwich City's forgotten men will tonight be given the chance to convince Paul Lambert they should be part of his plans.Darel Russell and Goran Maric - not yet seen by City fans since his arrival in the summer - will feature in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round tie at home to Brentford.

TWO of Norwich City's forgotten men will tonight be given the chance to convince Paul Lambert they should be part of his plans.

Darel Russell and Goran Maric - not yet seen by City fans since his arrival in the summer - will feature in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round tie at home to Brentford.

It would be a remarkable turnaround for Russell, who just a few weeks ago was hoping to be lining up for Burnley against the giants of the Premier League - only for City to reject Owen Coyle's offer.

It left the 28-year-old midfielder in limbo, but after talks with Lambert on Friday he appears to be back on the scene.

"I need to see Darel Russell playing and I need to see Maric playing, so those two lads will maybe get a shot at it," said Lambert yesterday.

"I spoke to him (Russell) on Friday and he was totally fine, really fine. I said I have to have an opportunity to see him playing - if he's here then I have to see him.

"I just don't want somebody sitting here and the club giving him money for just being about the place. They either put their shoulder to the wheel or they can come and see me, it's not a problem."

Russell told previous boss Bryan Gunn he wanted to play at a higher level than League One, although the message appears to have changed.

"He hasn't told me that," said Lambert, "so whether he told the last manager that or somebody else I don't know, because he never came and saw me to say he wanted to go."

Both Russell and Maric are training with the first team squad and should the Serbian play it will be the first sighting since the pre-season tour to Scotland.

"We will have a look at him tomorrow to see what he can do," said Lambert.

Dejan Stefanovic is another who has yet to appear this season - or in the summer - but a return for the veteran defender looks unlikely, with negotiations still ongoing over a way out of the remaining year of his two-year contract.