Andrew Surman needs no reminding what happened at this stage of the League Cup 12 months ago – but the memory of that bitter MK Dons exit will drive the Canaries on this evening against Scunthorpe.

Surman played a full part in a 4-0 defeat to the League One visitors that marked a low point in an otherwise stellar season for the club.

'It's horrible as a player to go through what we did last year at home,' he said. 'It wasn't a nice feeling, we don't want a repeat of that. I'm looking forward to it. 'We didn't have a run last season, MK Dons saw to that, but it's always good to put a cup run together and for some of the players who maybe haven't played so far this season it's an opportunity to show the manager they want to play.

'Every year we want to do well. We don't go out to lose games. We try to approach the game in exactly the same way as any other. Scunthorpe will be a good side, they scored five against Derby in the last round, so we are going to have to be on our game. We don't want any banana skins, we don't want to be slipping up. We want to go out and win the game.'

Surman was an unused substitute for last weekend's Premier League draw against QPR, but the 26-year-old knows that is likely to come with the territory after Chris Hughton's recent activity in the transfer market.

'It happens ever year, the manager brings in new signings. There is always competition for places, faces come in, faces go out,' he said. 'The players he has brought in have done really well and added that bit of quality to the squad.

'I'm sure the team will chop and change throughout the season but it's good to know there is strength in depth there, so whoever comes in is going to do a good job.

'I think the performance was much better on Saturday and we were probably unlucky not to win the game at the end – disappointed not to, as well.

'It's good to get the season going, get the first point on the board and after the Cup game, look forward to Spurs in the league on Saturday.'

Surman, like the rest of Hughton's squad, had to indulge in his fair share of soul-searching after an opening day disaster at Fulham.

'It's never nice, it was tough for the players to swallow and for the fans as well, but we knew we were better than that,' he said. 'We knew we let ourselves down and I think we showed that on Saturday.

'You have to remember we had an off day at Fulham, but look at the players we were playing against. They have some good players who can hurt any team and they nearly did it against Manchester United. We weren't at the races that day and they turned it on.

'But I think we've got full belief we have enough quality in this squad, we've got a lot of players from last season who did well, we had a good season and I think the additions we've brought in have added to the squad rather than kept it on a level. We're confident we have enough quality.'

Surman was deployed in a central role at Craven Cottage but the former England U21 international will do whatever it takes to play his part in another successful Premier League season.

'I've played across midfield – right, left centre or in the hole throughout my career. I can play anywhere across there,' he said. 'As long as I'm playing, I don't really mind where I'm playing, so I feel comfortable in all the positions across midfield.'