Paul Lambert insists Norwich can ill afford to rest on their laurels entering a fresh international break.

The City chief has the luxury of another fortnight working with the majority of his senior squad due to friendlies involving the Home Nations taking place around the Euro2012 qualifying play-offs.

The Canaries go into the latest Premier League shut-down ahead of both promoted rivals, Swansea and QPR – but Lambert now aims to push on. Norwich have picked up 13 points from their opening 11 league games and despite the weekend reverse at Aston Villa, Lambert knows there is plenty left to come.

'I think you always want more. You are always greedy that you want more. To keep on trying to strive, to keep on wanting more,' he said.

'It's really disappointing to come here and lose, but that shows you how far we have come when you go away from Villa Park and you are disappointed. There is a long, long way to go, but it's new for us and they are certainly holding their own. If we can keep that spirit and keep playing the way we are then hopefully we'll be okay.'

Lambert believes one positive from a break in the action is a chance to give City's depleted defensive ranks a collective breather.

Russell Martin has proved an able replacement in an unfamiliar centre back role alongside Leon Barnett following a raft of injuries to that same area of the Scot's squad.

Zak Whitbread (hamstring) has been sidelined since late August whilst Elliott Ward and Dani Ayala have played less than 45 minutes between them in the top flgiht this campaign.

'It has been relentless,' said Lambert. 'The break will galvanise us again. We'll come back and the first game is Arsenal which is another mammoth task, but it's something we love doing and something we'll try and stay in this league. You look at the centre back areas and we have had those two, plus Ritchie (De Laet) going for every single week. Until we got those injured ones back fit we need everybody to perform, regardless of who is fit or who is not.'