Paul Lambert has backed summer signing James Norwood to be a success for Ipswich Town in League One next season.

The 28-year-old striker joined the Tractor Boys last month on a free transfer, after an outstanding campaign with Tranmere Rovers last season.

Norwood scored 32 goals in 53 appearances for Tranmere in all competitions last season, as Rovers sealed back-to-back promotions with a victory over Newport County in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

The striker was named in the EFL Team of the Season and picked up the League Two Player of the Season award, after scoring more goals than any other player in the EFL last season.

The forward will be hoping to make an impact for Ipswich in League One next season, after signing a three-year deal at Portmand Road.

Ipswich will be expected to challenge for automatic from League One next season, following their relegation from the Championship last term.

Town boss Lambert has backed Norwood to be a success next season and is hoping to see him score the goals to fire his side to promotion.

"I'd watched him at Tranmere before the season finished and he did really well in the game," Lambert told the East Anglian Daily Times.

"I thought 'the lad is definitely a goal threat'.

"I thought his movement in the penalty box was really good and he got on the end of things well.

"The good thing about him is he looks like he can score different types of goals. He's a different type to what we have.

"I think he's played a hell of a lot of games over the last three years, over 150, so he never really misses games.

"He's experienced and he's clever. If he does what he does last year then we've got a really good player on our hands.

"Listen, if you score 32 goals, in any division, that's something. I think he'll be great for us."

The Verdict

I agree with Lambert here. Norwood was outstanding for Tranmere in League Two last season and I expect him to be a key player for Ipswich in League One next season.

He's got plenty of experience in the EFL and will be full of confidence after last season. I think he's more than capable of making an impact in the third tier.

Ipswich have got some talented attacking players, so Norwood will probably get more chances to score goals than he did for Tranmere last season, which is a very encouraging sign for Ipswich fans.

I could turn out to be an excellent signing on a free transfer and Ipswich fans will hope that he can score the goals to fire their side back to the Championship next season.