Grant Hanley has not been a moment's bother for Daniel Farke, despite kicking his heels at Norwich City.

The Canaries' pulled out the stops to sign the Scottish international from Newcastle United in the summer to plug a leaky backline.

But Hanley only made his full debut in the home Championship defeat to title hopefuls Wolves and was back on the bench for the 2-1 loss at Bolton prior to the international break.

Timm Klose and Christoph Zimmermann have formed a sturdy central defensive partnership, until a three-match losing league run, but Farke has told Hanley his time will come.

'He knew when he first arrived he had only played one game this season for Newcastle and even last season for many months he was not in the XI,' said Farke.

'He realised he might have to struggle to get back to fitness and he is there now. The togetherness with him and Russell (Martin) and Timm and Christoph is so good for all the defensive competitors. They are very supportive of each other. They have this feeling that they are responsible, hopefully for clean sheets and good defending.

'He knows the season is long with injuries and suspensions. He is just as important as Christoph and Timm because he is a good option. He deserves to play and for the past three or weeks he is an option for the starting XI.'

Zimmermann has been heavily punished for a couple of errors against Derby and the Trotters, after the former Borussia Dortmund powerhouse had put a shaky start to his career in England firmly behind him.

'It is easier to rotate a player out of the starting line up when he had a good game. Then it is easier to come back later. But you can argue about that either way,' said Farke. 'Our centre backs were brilliant in the last few weeks.

'Okay, Christoph made a mistake for the first goal against Derby but that was probably the only mistake in seven or eight weeks.

'There was no reason to change anything because it is a little bit easier to handle the load when you play in defensive areas. Forward players have to be more creative and try and to create the pass or the goal.

'Grant came in at Ipswich in a really important phase of the game and that was vital for him to feel a big part of it. He is a brilliant character.'