Norwich City defender Marc Tierney insists the Canaries will be looking to improve on what the club achieved last season in maintaining their Premier League status.

Many fans would be happy if the club could replicate the 12th-placed finish from last season but the former Colchester man hopes City can show signs of progression under new manager Chris Hughton.

The Canaries completed their pre-season programme with a 2-0 defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday but Tierney believes under new manager Chris Hughton the club can continue its upward curve of the last three seasons.

'We don't want to just relax and stay where we are,' said Tierney, who was one of City's star performers in the first half of last season before a torn adductor brought his season to a premature end. 'We want to keep working hard. Normally when a new manager comes in they have to try and turn things around.

'I think it's probably a bit different as we've done so well over the past couple of seasons so we've just got to look to continue improving.'

Tierney said the City boss has been looking to build on the solid Premier League foundations Paul Lambert laid before his departure for Aston Villa.

However, the former Birmingham manager has also got his own ideas on how he wants the Canaries to play and has been busy trying to get his message across to the players.

'The gaffer has been very positive on the front that we've done so well in the last couple of years, not to change too much,' he added. 'I don't think drastic change is really needed. I think he's identified certain players that he's wanted to bring in – that happens every season.

'In the general scheme of things he wants to continue the positive things that we've been doing and at the same time put his own stamp on what kind of display he would like and what he expects from us.'

City's defeat to Monchengladbach provided a timely reminder of the standard of opposition the Canaries will be up against in the Premier League. The Bundesliga side showed why they are in the Champions League this season and could more than hold their own against all but a clutch of Premier League sides.

'It was tough out there against good opposition – obviously you are never happy to lose a game but it's all about minutes on the pitch and finalising maybe one or two other positions,' said Tierney. 'We are going to be playing against good sides like that week in, week out so we've got to be up for that.

'I think that might be the most important thing, to give us a reminder of what this league is all about that we're playing in. It's going to be tough.'

Tierney admitted he is glad the pre-season programme of fixtures has finally come to an end. After proving he is over his injury problems he is desperate to feel the heat of a Premier League battle once again.

'It is a bit of an itchy stage when you just want to get on with the league especially in my case where I can't wait to just try and play week in, week out.

'You look forward to it, you've got to make sure that you dot the i's and cross the t's in training and put everything in on the training field.

'If you step out there and you've not done the training, you will be found out. We've worked really hard this summer and we are looking to come good on Saturday and the weeks that follow.'

The City management are likely to dial down the physical side of the squad's training over the next week as they prepare to go to Fulham but Tierney admitted every member of the squad has got one eye on being in that first starting XI.

'We will definitely not be taking it lightly – in training we will be giving it our all and hopefully we'll come good.

'We'll slightly ease off on the physical side of things but everyone wants to be in the team.

'We've done a lot of back four work and midfield work and how we can move forward as a team.

'We are at the point now where we understand what the manager wants from us.'