Martin Olsson is fit and firing and ready to play his part in Norwich City's Premier League quest.

The Swedish international has started the last five games in all competitions after fully recovering from shoulder surgery which wrecked his pre-season build-up. Olsson played through the pain barrier during the club's Championship promotion success, but paid for that commitment to the cause with a summer of rehab.

'I feel free now when I'm running around,' he said.

'I think it was probably during the (Nottingham) Forest game (last season) that I really thought, 'I need to get the shoulder done,' because it popped out two times in the space of 30 minutes and the last time my whole arm was just shaking, so that was a bit scary but a bit uncomfortable as well. That was the first time I felt, 'I really need to get it done now.' I got it done in Manchester and I am very happy. It took me a couple of weeks or so, maybe a month, to get used to going into any contact – just grabbing someone with my right arm – but I'm getting used to it now, and the more games I play it'll just get stronger and stronger.'

Olsson, speaking in the club's official match programme prior to Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw against title-chasing Arsenal, revealed he had managed the injury since his teens at Blackburn.

'I must have been 19 when it first happened. It was a pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon,' he said.

'It popped then – that's when I noticed it. It was pretty sore and then it was alright for a couple of years but then it came back again. Some bones in the front went out and I had no protection there. I had to tape it up but sometimes it didn't work because when it gets sweaty that makes it loose. If I just raised my arm it would just pop.'