Norwich City manager Chris Hughton believes that it is only a matter of time before top scorer Gary Hooper rediscovers his form in front of goal.

The 26-year-old has found the net five times in the Premier League since moving from Celtic in the summer, but not since the Boxing Day defeat to Fulham.

However, Hughton is happy with his overall contribution to the team and has backed the Scotsman to come good, stressing that going through lean periods is just part of the natural cycle of being a striker.

"Overall with Gary most of what he has produced has been good, but strikers go through periods when the goals are going in and others when they don't and maybe the confidence takes a hit," he told the Norwich Evening News.

"He has certainly been involved during this recent period. If I look at the [Aston] Villa game he was key for Wes [Hoolahan's] goal, he had an opportunity himself and then a later one as well when he went through with the keeper to beat.

"That is just the ups and downs of being a striker. He is one who has got some goals for us, but the statistics don't lie. Our strikers have found it difficult. You have to keep believing that we can score the goals to alleviate a bit of the pressure on the team."

Norwich are 15th in the table ahead of their trip to Southampton on Saturday.