While Kenny McLean's performances have beefed up city's midfield on the hallowed turf of Carrow Road, his young bovine namesake has been grazing the grassy pastures at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham.

But the calf had a difficult arrival, with farmer Jeremy Buxton and his vet fearing the animal would not survive its caesarean birth two weeks ago.

When all hope seemed lost, Kenny beat the odds and is now thriving - mirroring the Canaries' own miraculous rise up the Championship table in recent weeks.

So Mr Buxton's friends Jack and Chris Reeve, who run the Talk Norwich City online fan channel, offered help to find a name - sparking countless suggestions fusing footballers' names with cow themes.

Of the four most popular, Kenny Mooclean topped the poll with 49pc of the vote, followed by Moo Touré, Oscar Schwarcow and Vladan Cowvacevic.

"We were just inundated across all social media platforms with hundreds of suggestions," said Mr Buxton.

"The fact that Kenny Moocleen has come out on top of this list is appropriate this year in particular, because Kenny is the captain and this is the season where he's celebrating his 300th appearance. Like a fine wine, Kenny keeps getting better and better. So what could be more appropriate than to have an Eves Hill Farm calf named after him?

"The arrival of young Kenny into the world is reminiscent of Norwich's form throughout the season. We all thought they were done for and facing relegation into League One. But no, they've come back like a phoenix from the flames, and are now moving up the table to potentially a playoff place. And here, a calf we thought was done for is now absolutely thriving and going great guns. It's perfect."

Mr Buxton, a former Eurosport TV sports presenter, is a Talk Norwich City sponsor and a Carrow Road regular alongside his nine-year-old son Edward - also an avid fan and matchday mascot.

The farm's links to the club have also included a player visit from Emi Marcondes, who was treated to a farm walk and some grass-fed beef. Now it is hoped the self-declared "Mayor of Norwich" Kenny McLean will also make the trip to meet his namesake.

Mr Buxton added: "Now that he's got a cow named after him, we hope 'the mayor' himself might pop out - he has to, surely, doesn't he? He has to bring his family out to the countryside and meet young Kenny. That would be the dream."

© Norwich Evening News