Hard work will be the key to Huddersfield causing Norwich City problems at Carrow Road tomorrow night, according to former Canaries captain Andy Hughes.

Eastern Daily Press: Andy Hughes in action for Norwich during a 2-0 loss at Burnley in the Championship in March 2006. Photo: Jed Wee.Andy Hughes in action for Norwich during a 2-0 loss at Burnley in the Championship in March 2006. Photo: Jed Wee. (Image: Sportsbeat Images)

The 38-year-old is the Terriers' first-team coach, working alongside manager David Wagner and assistant Christoph Buehler, having left Crystal Palace in the summer.

Now the former City midfielder is preparing Huddersfield's squad to take on his former employers and he admits ahead of the game that he is a fan of Norwich manager Alex Neil.

'We need to put on a performance, we need to work hard, really work hard, because their manager's work ethic is really top,' Hughes said. 'He was successful across the border, he's been successful at Norwich with what he's built into them.

'So first and foremost to get any result out of this game we've got to work really hard and we'll definitely be making sure that we're locked onto that because it's going to be a very, very tough game, that we're looking forward to.'

Eastern Daily Press: Andy Hughes, right, and Kris Renton at the end of Norwich City's 4-1 loss to Burnley at Carrow Road in October 2006. Photo: Paul Greenwood.Andy Hughes, right, and Kris Renton at the end of Norwich City's 4-1 loss to Burnley at Carrow Road in October 2006. Photo: Paul Greenwood. (Image: Sportsbeat Images)

Huddersfield made a flying start to the season before hitting a poor patch but have got their campaign back on track with a 2-1 home win over Bristol City and a 1-0 win at Burton.

That has left Wagner's team fourth in the Championship table – although Norwich would leapfrog them with victory tomorrow, ahead of the remaining fixtures on Saturday.

'I wouldn't say promotion contenders, I'd say a team that is progressing,' Hughes said of Huddersfield's progress.

'If you look at last season, we still finished in the bottom half of the table, so there was a remit that we spoke about in private with the manager, with Christoph, with Stuart (Webber, head of football operations) and all the players as well and all the support staff, because it's a big team thing here, which the chairman is really big on.

'The manager planted them little ideas and structure last year in how we're going to play, which is exciting, but there's a way of managing it.'

Hughes made 79 appearances for the Canaries between 2005 and 2007, scoring twice, but is also remembered for an unsavoury incident in the final match of Nigel Worthington's reign in October 2006.

Hughes clashed with a City supporter and had to be restrained by goalkeeper Paul Gallagher at full-time of a 4-1 home loss to Burnley, as calls for Worthington to leave rang around the stadium, with his dismissal following later that evening.

Hughes went on to play for Leeds, Scunthorpe and Charlton after City and is looking forward to his Carrow Road return.

'I think it's a really, really exciting game for both clubs,' Hughes continued, speaking to Huddersfield's website.

'It's a Friday night, it's on TV, the pitch will be outstanding as always, the support will be great. Under the lights, Friday night, great game for TV.

'They're a good club, always been a good club but it's about us and what we're doing. We're really looking forward to going there, you could say they've had a sticky run but you could arguably say they've got a Premier League squad.

'They've got top players but we've got young, hungry players who want to go out and play against the best.'

For more from Hughes ahead of the match, press play on the video above.