Norwich City midfielder Jonny Howson would love to follow John Ruddy into the England international set-up.

The 24-year-old is likely to play some part in City's latest friendly action tonight at Championship club Hull after Chris Hughton left out a core of senior stars for the goalless draw at MK Dons on Friday.

Howson's focus remains building on an impressive end to his first-ever Premier League campaign last season following his New Year arrival from Leeds.

The Yorkshireman, however, knows Ruddy's fairytale rise to the Three Lions' squad before injury cut short his European Championship ambitions proves anything is possible.

He said: 'At this minute in time it's something I've not thought about. My aim at this minute is just improving on last season and getting a few more games. I enjoyed it all last season and just want more. If you are looking, you only have to look at John Ruddy and what he's done.

'He was unfortunate that he didn't actually go to the Euros with his injury he picked up in training. But he had a terrific season and was rewarded with it at the end of the season. Who knows? You never know what happens in football but first and foremost it's concentrating on Norwich and trying to get in the side for that first game of the season.'

Howson puts his smooth transition from Elland Road down to the characters he found within the Norwich dressing room.

He said: 'I found it quite, I wouldn't like to say easy, to settle in but when you've got the players around like we have, they make life on and off the pitch a bit easier because they ease you into it. It was very welcoming and it just makes you settle into it straightaway, so it was nice, that aspect, the way the lads have been.

'On the football side, it was something I wanted to do and was looking forward to and when I got the chance it was a case of making the most of it. But when you've got the players around that we have, it's a massive help when you can rely on someone who's there when you maybe haven't got that sharpness, or it does take you that couple of games to get up to the speed of it.'

Hughton has drafted in Howson's former Leeds team mate Robert Snodgrass and ex-Barnsley prospect Jacob Butterfield over the summer to inject even more competition into City's midfield. Andrew Surman believes that battle can only enhance the club's Premier League prospects.

He said: 'There's always a big turnaround of players but the players who have come in have slotted in well and team spirit's good and everyone believes we can do good things this season. You need different formations, different players, different strategies. Every week whether you are playing the bottom side or the top side, they have world-class players in their teams.'