Alex Tettey admits Norwich City's squad should not be embroiled in a Premier League relegation scrap.

The Norwegian international insists the Canaries have better players than this time 12 months ago when they survived in the final week prior to embarking on a record close-season transfer outlay. Dutch internationals Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Leroy Fer moved to Carrow Road alongside the likes of Nathan Redmond and Martin Olsson but City still find themselves in another survival struggle.

Norwich host Sunderland this weekend four points clear of the bottom three and bidding to bounce back from two heavy away defeats at Aston Villa and Southampton.

'I agree we probably did not expect to be in this situation. Last season we had guys who if you compared them to the ones who came in are not what you would describe as high profile players,' he said. 'I think we should do better this season if you compare the squad we have now. What can you say? You have to be realistic. As a group and a team we know what is going on. We know where we are. We have to look forward and not dwell on what happened in the past. That is gone. 'We can't do anything about it and what we don't need is any negativity around us because as soon as we have that we will not think positively.'

Tettey is fully aware Norwich's fans expected better this season.

'I understand but it is us who are playing the game and we want the people of Norfolk to be happy. We are trying to perform at our maximum,' he said. 'That is football. We have to perform better than last Saturday.

'Of course we feel the frustration on the pitch with the fans; especially at Villa after those first 25 minutes. As a player you are concentrating on the pitch of course, but you hear it all.'