Adam Drury believes it is possible for Norwich to avoid relegation straight back to the Championship.
Defender confident Norwich can compete in Premier League
Norwich full-back Adam Drury is already looking ahead to next season and believes it is possible to avoid relegation straight back to the Championship.
The 32-year-old defender captained the Canaries to the First Division title under Nigel Worthington in 2004 ahead of what was an all-too-brief stay among England's elite.
Drury continued to be a consistent performer for a succession of managers following Worthington's dismissal, and remained loyal to the club when they were relegated to League One in 2009.
This season, a knee injury limited Drury to just over 20 appearances in what was a third promotion campaign with the Canaries since his £500,000 arrival from Peterborough in March 2001.
Drury feels Norwich's transformation under Paul Lambert, appointed just 20 months ago, is testament to the positive attitude of everyone at the Norfolk club.
"No-one really expected all this. If we had stayed in the Championship, people would have been happy, but what we have all achieved is incredible," he said.
"When we got relegated down to League One, we did not think it could get any worse, but for the manager and his staff to have turned things around as quickly as they have is unbelievable.
"The manager has got so much respect and the team spirit he has built has been a massive part of it all.
"I am sure the gaffer will now go out and add players, but he picks carefully who he wants to add to the squad.
Million dollar question
"Hopefully now we can all kick on from here because this type of thing in your career does not happen very often."
Drury is the last remaining member of Norwich's 2004/2005 Premier League squad - which also included the likes of Darren Huckerby, England keeper Robert Green, former England striker Dean Ashton and then a young David Bentley, on loan from Arsenal.
The veteran full-back, though, feels Lambert's current crop can go one better and secure a second stint in the top flight.
"It is the million dollar question about how we will do next season, and that is for the manager to sort out because they have proven what they can do so far," he said.
"Everyone has earned it, whether you have played a lot of games or not, we have all done our bit in getting Norwich to where they are now.
"Now everyone will give it a good go again."
