Michael Turner formed an impressive partnership with Sebastien Bassong at the heart of the defence before being sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Matt Kilgallon has praised the determination of former central defensive partner Michael Turner for overcoming a harrowing start to his Norwich City career.

Turner’s three-year stint at Sunderland came to an end during the summer, when he made a £1.5million switch to Carrow Road.

The 29-year-old endured a nightmare debut for the Canaries as Chris Hughton’s side were thrashed 5-0 at Fulham on the opening day and he was again exposed in the 5-2 rout against Liverpool.

But slowly, Turner settled and formed an impressive partnership with Sébastien Bassong at the heart of the defence before being sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Turner is very unlikely to figure in Sunday’s meeting with Sunderland at Carrow Road (4pm), but Kilgallon, who lined up alongside the former Hull man at the start of his Black Cats career, told the Sunderland Echo: “It’ll be good to see big Turns again. He’s a good player.

“He had a hard start down at Norwich, but he believed in himself and he’s come through it. Now it looks like he’s playing really well. Norwich have been doing well.

“But we’ve been doing all right away from home so it might be good to go there and with it on Sky as well, I’m sure the lads will be buzzing for it.”