New Norwich City signing Sebastien Bassong is hoping to rediscover the form that once made him one of the hottest young defenders in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old burst on the scene at Newcastle United as a no-nonsense centre half with a turn of pace that was able to nullify even the quickest of top flight strikers.

But an �8m move to Tottenham stalled his progress and, after an ill-fated loan spell at relegated Wolves last season, Bassong can't wait for a new beginning at Carrow Road.

'At Tottenham I've been through some good and bad moments but a footballer's career can happen like this so I don't regret anything,' said the Cameroon international, who signed a three-year contract with the Canaries on Tuesday. 'It's a fresh start for me. I want a clean slate and maybe we will see the real Seb Bassong again.

'When I signed for Tottenham it was for quite a big fee. We got in the Champions League and then it went bad a bit. Now I'm just looking to be a good player that can add something to the team and we all want to do a great job together.'

City boss Chris Hughton has reportedly parted with a fee in the region of �4m, a club record fee, amid interest from several other Premier League clubs, including tomorrow's opponents QPR.

Bassong admitted he weighed up several offers after learning from new Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas he was surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane.

'It wasn't an easy decision because you've got to think about everything,' he said. 'Sometimes you have to take a decision and when you weigh up the plusses and minuses then Norwich were the best for me. I have been talking with AVB (Andre Villas Boas) a lot and we get along well. We both agreed that I needed to move on so that was okay.'

Bassong is looking forward to fighting for a regular first team place with the Canaries and if he can get back to the form that earned him Newcastle's player of the year award in 2009 then Norwich may have found themselves a bargain.

'Playing week in, week out is something that I'm looking forward to,' he added. 'But to do that you've got deserve to so you've got to work hard in training to deserve to be in the starting XI. Without that you're not going to play every week.

'I'm meant to be a powerful defender and I'm just trying to add to the team because they have got already. Altogether I think we can do a great job.' Bassong is likely to be thrown straight into first team action this weekend to try and shore up the City defence that capitulated to Fulham on the opening day of the season.

The same fate befell QPR at home to Swansea and Bassong admitted he and his new team-mates will be looking to pile the pressure on the Londoners.

'We are at home so we have got to make sure that we welcome them really well,' said Bassong with a twinkle in his eye. 'They want to make sure they don't start with two defeats just like we don't. But the season is really long so it's better to lose 5-0 now than later on in the season.

'The earlier we learn from our mistakes then the better we will be.'