Russell Martin glad to be back in Norwich City action

It may be in a different position, but Russell Martin is loving being back involved in first team action at Carrow Road.

Traditionally a right-back since his arrival from Peterborough United almost two years ago, the 25-year-old failed to appear for three of City's opening four Premier League games as Tottenham loanee Kyle Naughton stepped up. But since then, Martin's introduction to City's central defensive pairing – a unit lacking Zak Whitbread, Elliott Ward and Ritchie de Laet for various reasons in recent weeks – has bordered on being a revelation.

Wins over Bolton and Sunderland followed before those ifs and buts at Old Trafford almost a fortnight ago – coinciding with Martin moving from centre-back stand-in to the man his team-mates will have to work hard to dislodge.

'I'm just really enjoying it,' said Martin. 'You get a chance to test yourself against the best and you want to prove yourself. There really aren't many of us who have played games in the Premier League and we want to prove ourselves at this level. And if we do that we'll stay up at the end of the season.

'I'm particularly enjoying it; obviously, I was out of the side for a couple of games and it's nice to be back involved because as a footballer that's all you want do.

'It is a bit of a new position (here) but I've played there lots in the past. Hopefully we carry on the way we are going. We deserve a clean sheet the way we've played the last few games, so hopefully we'll get one sooner or later.'

While the Canaries are yet to keep a clean sheet, results have been more than good enough to date and but for better finishing, Norwich could have left with something far better than a 2-0 defeat from Manchester United before the international break.

So Martin is confident another free weekend won't disturb City's rhythm as they take on fellow Premier League new boys Swansea at Carrow Road on Saturday (3pm): 'It was a strange one (at United) because you came off the pitch losing and extremely disappointed to lose, against one of the best teams in the world.

'The boys did the same at Chelsea, gave a great performance and until John (Ruddy) got sent off we were looking to get a point at least. We can take massive heart from those and go with confidence into every game.'

Safety will be the season's primary target for both sides at Carrow Road this weekend.

'Swansea have done quite well recent and obviously we know them well from last year, so there is a little bit of rivalry there,' Martin told the club's website. 'It's a good rivalry. We've played a lot of their players coming up through the leagues, so it's similar to us.

'It's a game at home, one we want to win and one we're more than capable of winning.'