Newly promoted Norwich City will be looking to mark their return to the top flight of English football with a win against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Back in the big time
The Canaries only spent one season in the second tier of English football, securing their promotion last May at Wembley defeating Middlesbrough 2-0 in the Championship play-off final.
It was disastrous campaign their last time in the top flight with Neil Adams being brought in to front a revival to beat the drop, but he could do nothing with the club losing six of their last seven matches which saw them relegated.
Despite the drop, Adams remained in charge for seven months before resigning from the role back in January leaving the club seventh in the Championship. Scotsman Alex Neil was brought in as his replacement and guided the club to 15 wins in his 22 matches which secured a place in the play-offs which they eventually won.
Incomings
They haven’t really added many new faces to the squad with; Robbie Brady, Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu and Jake Kean the only major additions at Carrow Road. Their best bit of business was managing to keep hold of a number of key players with; Bradley Johnson, Gary Hooper and Nathan Redmond, who were all vital to their promotion, remaining at the club.
Tough opposition
Many expected Crystal Palace to struggle last year with the late departure of Tony Pulis who had guided them to safety the previous year, they had poor start to the campaign winning just three of their opening 20 matches.
However there was complete turnaround with the arrival of club legend Alan Pardew in January from Newcastle United, a four-game winning streak between March and April secured their survival and wins against Liverpool and Swansea ended the campaign on a high note finishing in a respectable 10th position.
Palace have stated their eagerness in the transfer market with the significant signings of Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham from Paris Saint-Germain and Sunderland respectively, they also managed to bring in Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford on loan after impressing at Middlesbrough.
Team news
Norwich suffered a blow when Mulumbu suffered a broken metatarsal during a 2-1 victory over Brentford, Martin Olsson is also expected to sit out as he still recovers from shoulder surgery. Brady is expected to make his debut after his £7m move from Hull with Cameron Jerome expected to lead the attack.
Alex McCarthy is expected to make his debut after Julian Speroni was ruled out with a finger injury, there is a doubt over the fitness of Yannick Bolasie which could see former Wolves man Bakary Sako, who joined the club earlier in the week, get the nod.