Russell Martin has praised Norwich centre-halves Leon Barnett & Sebastien Bassong

Sebastien Bassong: Norwich City new boy has been praised by Russell Martin for his centre-half pairing with Leon Barnett

Russell Martin reckons the rapport struck up by centre-backs Leon Barnett and Sebastien Bassong is good news for Norwich City.

Martin has been shifted to right-back to accommodate Bassong, with Barnett brought in from the cold by Chris Hughton to partner the summer signing from Tottenham.

The new-look defence, with Javier Garrido on the left, kept its first clean sheet this season in last Saturday's 0-0 draw at home with West Ham.

And Martin said: "Seb has done really well. He found it a bit hard at Tottenham because of the finances they have there to get in players. But their loss is our gain.

"He's a big, strong athlete and he likes to talk as well. It helps, he likes to chat, he's a good character and he's done really well.

"Credit to Leon Barnett as well for coming in the way he has the last couple of games. I think he's been brilliant. He's had a chance to come back in and he has taken it, grabbed it with both hands.

"They've worked really well together and I hope it will continue."