Paul Lambert has urged his summer recruits to be ready when he throws them back into the fray.

Young wide players Anthony Pilkington and Elliott Bennett were regular starters in the opening months of the Premier League campaign, but both have had to settle for a watching brief in the past few games alongside midfielder Bradley Johnson.

With City now firmly pitched into a congested festive run, Lambert know the depth of his squad will be tested to the full. Lambert is confident that particular trio in question will have benefited from a spell on the sidelines.

'I think given the amount of games you play at such a high level maybe some lads need a break from it,' he said. 'You can bet any money you want that those lads will go again. The impetus of those lads being on the bench will give them a lift I'm sure to go again.

'We need everybody in the squad to perform because depending on the number of games and injuries, we'll need everybody. I think it's vital we go into this period as we have done the previous 16 games. You can't prioritise one game as more important than the other.'

Kyle Naughton is another close season recruit who is due an enforced rest, under the terms of his loan deal, when parent club Tottenham visit Carrow Road next week. The Sheffield-bred prospect is poised for another test evening tonight against Wolves' dangerman Matthew Jarvis.

'Yeah, he looked like he played really well at the weekend and we'll have to try and cut those crosses out,' said Lambert. 'Kyle is playing really well at the minute too. We have to try and stop not just him, but a few of the Wolves lads who are really good players.

'People maybe forget Kyle is only a young lad who still has all his career in front of him.

'I'm pretty sure going to Leicester helped him last year and then coming here and the amount of games he has had, he has coped really fine. I'm happy with what Kyle has done.'

Fellow full-back Ritchie De Laet will not be considered tonight. The Manchester United loanee has been blighted with a back problem in recent weeks.