Bradley Johnson is under orders to add a goal threat to his Premier League repertoire.

The combative Norwich City midfielder doubled his tally for last season with a headed brace in the final pre-season 2-0 win over Panathinaikos.

Johnson missed one Premier League game through suspension during Chris Hughton's first season in charge but the City boss has challenged the 26-year-old to raise his game.

'The gaffer has told me I have to get on the scoresheet a bit more,' said Johnson. 'When you have players like Snoddy (Robert Snodgrass) who can put in quality balls it is up to lads like myself to try and get on the end of them. It will be a long season and I don't expect to play every game.

'He has brought in a few new players and that can help to share the load, but I took a lot of confidence from the fact the manager played me so much.

'When I first came here you could have fielded 11 midfielders so really nothing has changed. It's down to me. I have to work hard on the training pitch and every time I want to show that determination to win and keep the jersey. I know if I take my foot off the gas it can change so quickly.'

Johnson is desperate to retain his place for this weekend's opening day league test against Everton after proving his fitness following a knee injury suffered on the club's early-summer US tour.

'It is horrible sitting on the sidelines watching games if you are injured or not involved,' he said. 'I want to play as much as I can and I hope I have done well enough to play against Everton. I think we only lost three games in the league at home last season so we are always confident at home. Then we have Hull who will have that momentum of all the newly-promoted sides but we played them in pre-season this time last year and a lot of the lads will have come up against them in the Championship so anything can happen on the day.

'This is the hardest league to play in with great teams and great players so of course it is always going to be about staying in the division. If we can do that and maybe aim for a higher finish then that is a bonus but the main aim is to stay in the league.'