Bradley Johnson knows he must not ease up if he wants to be a leading man for Norwich City in their Championship promotion quest.

Johnson has been an ever-present in Neil Adams' central midfield this season so far, scoring crucial goals against Blackburn and Watford, as well as captaining the side to a hard-fought win at Brentford.

The 27-year-old knows the return of Jonny Howson in the midweek Capital One Cup tie at Shrewsbury allied to the summer arrivals of Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe and Conor McGrandles have turned up the heat in the Canaries' engine room.

'We've got a great squad this year and it can only benefit us,' he said. 'I know there are lads who can do the same job as me in this team, Howson is back now, Vadis hasn't really played centrally yet and you can add young Conor as well and he wants to play. This is a strong squad and you have to play well to keep the shirt.

'Every position has about three or four players fighting for that place. You know if one player's form drops there is another waiting who can come in and do a job. I would say it is the best squad in my time at the club, definitely. There is so much competition for places.

'I think you can tell by the performances in the league how much we are all enjoying it. We have so many players the manager could made 11 changes the other night. The result wasn't what we wanted but that team (at Shrewsbury) could play in the Championship and do well.'

Johnson believes that unity and strength in depth makes it unlikely Norwich's combative midfielder will feature week in, week out as Adams' strives to protect his troops.

'It's a big squad but it's a long season and I am sure it will get rotated,' he said. 'You know you can't let your standards drop. I prefer that and everywhere I have been in my career I have had that type of competition. It's down to you to work hard in training and when you get the chance try to keep the shirt. I know I won't play every game and there will be ups and downs with my form, but I aim to play as many as I can.

'If my form does drop I know there are lads waiting in the background so I don't want that to happen. Every time I play I will give my best for the club.'