Hectic schedule to test Norwich City’s new-look squad to the full

Supporters are eagerly awaiting their first look at several new players signed at the end of the summer transfer window, giving the City boss a squad which many Championship managers will envy.

Now those players must start repaying the faith shown in them by the former City winger, starting today away at fellow promotion hopefuls Cardiff City.

'We're fortunate that we fly to Cardiff, which is fantastic because otherwise you're facing a five or six-hour journey,' Adams said of his side's upcoming busy schedule.

'And this again is one of the reasons why we've got that pool of players. We play Saturday-Tuesday now, if we get through that without an injury I'd be amazed, so for travelling the club are very good with us.

'Brentford (on Tuesday) is not so far away and we go overnight for that as well. I think we've got four away games in the next five which isn't an ideal situation but that's football, certainly in the Championship, if you don't want to play in midweek then stay in the Premier League, but that's what we're facing now, we've got to deal with it.'

With a first-team squad of more than 30 players, Adams acknowledges he faces a tough task in maintaining a happy camp, but feels his players must share that responsibility as well.

'You can only keep 11 happy on a Saturday, 18 if you like with the bench, and every player there should want to be in that starting 11,' the City boss continued.

'Every player wants to play games and it's absolutely key, and part of my job, and part of the player's responsibilities as well because if you've got that unity, that spirit about the group as we have now, you've got a hell of a chance and that's why keeping them together as a group is vitally important.

'There's only going to be 11 happy on a match day, the others want to be in the team and there's a way of going about it, certainly the attitude and professionalism of the players here, we're going that right way.'