Returning midfielder Jonny Howson knows he will have to wait patiently for his chance to force his way back into Norwich City's starting line-up.

The 26-year-old stepped up his recovery from a pre-season knee injury last week by playing the full 90 minutes in City's shock Capital One Cup loss at Shrewsbury and 10 minutes as a substitute in the 3-1 league win at Blackpool.

Howson is now hoping to get another chance in tonight's Championship clash with Charlton Athletic at Carrow Road – but is keen to stress he is more concerned with the team's fortunes ahead of his own.

'I don't think it's about me personally, it's about the team first and foremost,' the former Leeds United skipper said. 'The team's doing well, I've got a contract here for a few years and the same as every other lad in that changing room, we all want to be playing, but we can't all play.

'It's about the team, it's about getting back to the Premier League and carrying on doing what we're doing at the moment.'

A back injury saw Howson miss more than two months of last season, restricting him to 23 starts for the Canaries, so he is keen to get back into action again.

'I missed quite a large part through the middle of last season,' Howson added. 'That's one thing that you certainly find once you've had a few weeks or a few months out, certainly with the first team, it does take you a little bit to get used to how quick it is.

'When you're coming into a good group, or even more so when the group is doing so well, the way the lads are playing it is difficult, but that's how you want it.

'You only get better by pushing yourself and playing with better players so, I'm just pleased to be back outside but hopefully I can get back up to speed quicker rather than later.'