In the three Premier League campaigns that preceded his arrival at Carrow Road from Leeds United in the summer of 2011, the midfielder found the net on just six occasions.

However, down in the Championship, the 28-year-old has scored 15 times for the Canaries - a haul which includes five goals in his last five outings.

Such form has helped Norwich to secure their place in the playoffs, where they will take on rivals Ipswich Town over two legs for a place in the Wembley final.

Ahead of those encounters, Drury has tipped Johnson to have a big say on the outcome of the all-East Anglian tie.

"He's a leader - you only have to watch the way that he plays. He's all action and puts himself about. He's added goals to his game and important ones," Drury told Sports Mole.

"Some of the games have been on a knife edge and he's managed to nick a goal, his goal at Brighton being the prime example. That wasn't an easy finish, but he's done that a lot this season.

"He's going to play a massive part [against Ipswich] and it wouldn't be a surprise if he scored one or two against them.

Drury believes that the reason behind his former teammate's dramatically increased goal return this term can be attributed to an enhanced level of belief in front of goal.

"When one or two start flying in, you then have that belief that you'll score every time. The Brighton one bounced just in front of him and he managed to lash it into the roof of the net. Maybe if he hadn't scored for six months, that flies over the bar," added the 36-year-old, who recently completed the London Marathon in 3.42:53.

"He's got belief in himself now because he's always had a good strike on him, he's just keeping it out of Row Z and putting it in the back of the net."

Norwich travel to Portman Road on Saturday for the first leg, before they host the return meeting a week later.