Norwich City's former Premier League defender Marc Edworthy feels the element of surprise could be the Canaries' greatest weapon this season.

Edworthy made 28 top flight appearances during City's last brush with England's top tier in 2004/05 – a six-season hiatus the retired right-back feels could work to Norwich's advantage.

'You look at the promoted clubs and the one thing that is in their favour perhaps is they are an unknown quantity,' he said. 'Particularly when you haven't been in the division for a while. They've got Wigan and Stoke in the first games and no doubt the manager will be drumming it into them they have a possibility to pick up some points. If you do that, it will settle everyone down.

'They are a winning side, used to winning games, and that breeds a huge amount of confidence. If they can start well and get a few positive results on the board then anything is possible. You only have to look at Blackpool. They played some great attacking football and won a lot of friends along the way. Most people wanted to see them stay in the Premier League, but they found out towards the end the big difference with the Championship is it can be relentless and it can bite you. They just didn't have enough to survive.'

Edworthy helped four different clubs earn promotion to the Premier League in an 18-year professional career. The former Crystal Palace, Wolves and Derby defender knows the top flight can be an unforgiving place.

'I remember at Norwich that season it took us a while to get that first win,' he said. 'You need to get that first win and it's a clich� but there isn't any easy ones. Every game you have to be at your best to thrive in that league. You are playing the best teams and best players in the world. That is what the Premier League has become and to compete you have to be at your absolute best every game.

'But I'm sure they'll identify certain games when they can pick results up and prove they are every bit as good as some teams.

'It must be an exciting place to be at present and it's fantastic for the fans.

'You don't want to put a dampener on it already, but I'm sure inside the club they know how tough it is going to be for them. Listen, they are there on merit and they deserve their chance and I think they could surprise a few. Those players will have been waiting for this sort of chance for a long time in their careers and I'm pretty sure they can do well.'

Edworthy believes Norwich's loyal fanbase can expect to see a vastly-improved Premier League product from the top flight they left behind.

'Getting out of the Championship the way they did was incredible but I think the Premier League has moved on a lot since we managed it the last time,' he said. 'It does every season and you see the sums players are going for in transfers and wages. It's gone to a new level and so that is what makes its difficult for the three promoted teams to survive – but it's not impossible.

'They have a fantastic manager in charge and I'm sure he will get them playing. I don't know him personally but he is clearly an intelligent man and he had a wonderful playing career. Carrow Road can be an intimidating place to play and if they can get the home form right and make that a fortress that can be a key to how they go in that league.

'I'll be looking closely for their results and supporting them all the way.'