ON the eve of Forest Green’s Good Friday clash at promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers, sports editor Ashley Loveridge quizzed Tranmere’s ex-Forest Green striker James Norwood.

AL: What a season, top goal scorer in the EFL with 27 goals and named Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season. How pleased are you to reach such dizzy heights?

JN: It’s taken a long time for me to get a crack at a real chance of league football, I have to be pleased but I’ve taken a lot of things in this year and have continued to develop as a player.

Obviously, I’m pleased with the way the season has gone but I’ve been part of a good team and the way it’s set up is great for me.

AL: You seem to like playing against Forest Green, apart from Wembley of course?

JN: I just like to score goals, whether that be against FGR or anyone. I just try to play my normal game and hopefully that means I have a good game.

AL: Playing under David Hockaday and Ady Pennock, do you view your time at Forest Green as bittersweet ?

JN: My memories of the New Lawn are exactly that, the lads we had in for the most part I’m still friends with, we had a great bond and really enjoyed my time spent with those players.

The bitter bit is being played out of position for four years, I feel like I missed some very good years of my life and like to think now that I’ve proved to everyone I was and always have been a centre forward.

AL: Back-to-back promotions with Tranmere would be a dream?

JN: Of course, it’s a massive club who have suffered a couple of setbacks, it’s a special club to me and I want to see it succeed as we all do here at Tranmere. The fans are brilliant and we've had over 8,000 at our last two home games.

AL: Are you a football fan in your spare time?

JN: It’s nice to switch off from football, I find myself not watching the game, but analysing strikers movements, so it’s not all that enjoyable for me.

AL: Many have said you have the ability to play in the Championship - what are your future ambitions at the age of 28?

JN: Firstly, to be promoted to League One with Tranmere come May 4. I think we’ve got a chance. If we win four games you’d like to think we’d achieve our goal.

AL: Forest Green are gunning for promotion and Mark Cooper sets his team out to play passing football, how tough will they be to beat on Good Friday ?

JN: FGR are always a tough team to play against, they’re well drilled and like to pass the ball under Mark Cooper. We’ll have to be at the top of our game to beat them.

AL: Forest Green have beaten you three times on the spin, do you think they have a psychological edge over you?

JN: I don’t think previous games come into play, every game is different, different situations,environments and things to play for.