Russell Martin believes Norwich City are looking good for the run-in as the number of players on the injury table continues to drop.
Defender believes Norwich are getting stronger as players return
Russell Martin believes Norwich City are looking good for the run-in as the number of players on the injury table continues to drop.
Elliott Ward made his first Canaries appearance of the season against Swansea at the start of February, whilst striker James Vaughan made his comeback in Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Leicester City.
Dani Ayala could return at the start of March for the clash with Stoke, when Zak Whitbread, Ryan Bennett and Jonny Howson could all also be fit to play.
Martin told
Edp24: "Elliott is back, Zak isn't far away and Dani - and then obviously we have Ryan coming in a couple of weeks, Jonny is training, so it's going to be tough just to get in the squad on a match day.
"That's what you want. I guess as a manager it gives him a headache every week and I guess that is what he wants, because we have got a squad of real depth and quality now.
"I think we have done brilliant up until now and hopefully all the injuries come back and it goes smoothly with them, because we are as strong as we've ever been - and that is a great thing for the run-in. Hopefully we will keep picking up points and see where we go."
Tough
The fixture computer has handed Norwich a difficult end to the season with games against Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, and Martin admits they would like to be clear of relegation before then.
"It's the old cliche - we do take it as a game at a time - but it is a tough run-in, that's for sure," he added.
"As soon as the fixtures came out you looked at it and thought you have got to have a few points on the board before that. But we've given everyone a game this year, pretty much, so whoever we play we'll have a good go.
"It would be nice to pick up a few points before then because the run-in is as tough as they come probably, with the teams that are down there. But every game in this league is tough. If QPR or Wigan have an easier run-in on paper, it doesn't really mean much in this league.
"We'll take every game as it comes and if we play the way we can then we will be all right."
It is not easy before that however as Sunday's visitors to Carrow Road are defending champions Manchester United.
Norwich put in a good show at Old Trafford back in October, but still succumbed to a 2-0 defeat and the 26-year-old knows it will be a tough test.
He added: "I think they've improved a lot since then.
"They've really hit top form now and they are going to be a totally different side to what we played up there earlier in the season.
"We have come a long way since then as well, so it's up to us to try and play our own game. But there is no doubt they're on top form. It's probably the hardest game we've had all season down here.
"No one needs to get us up for it, it's as big as they come. The champions coming down here and we want to give them a game, like we did at Old Trafford."
