Dean Smith knows full well if Russell Martin is the headline story Norwich City have had another tough Championship day at the office.  

The former Canaries’ stalwart, and his Swansea City, stand in the way of a positive return to league action following the domestic pause for the World Cup. 

Martin was part of three promotion-winning squads at Carrow Road, two from the second tier, and memorably led the club to a Wembley play-off triumph. 

The Swans’ chief sought to downplay the personal element to his first competitive joust against his old club.  

Smith’s focus is less on his opposite number than trying to deconstruct Martin’s methods. 

“The analysts have looked at Swansea’s last three or four games and debriefed on what they think their strengths and weaknesses are," he said. "But, no, other than that, it's just like another game. I think we have to concentrate on ourselves. 

"The players and coaches have relished the break. We’ve had a chance to reflect and improve and hopefully we'll see the improvement on Saturday.   

“I don't really know Russell at all. But his assistant, Matt Gill, was my first ever signing at Walsall. We took him on loan from Norwich and he was brilliant. And he's one who's reached out during his coaching career, just for advice off myself.

"I've always kept in touch with him. I only spent three or four months with him, but what a good guy.” 

Smith feels a sunshine training camp in Florida was just the ticket on and off the park.  

“It was good to see the players in a different environment. Some had their families with them as well. I even have my family with me,” he said. “We had ‘Thanksgiving’ dinner on a boat on the bay, and we went to watch the ice hockey as well.

"The lads had the first week off, but the rest of the time we have worked hard.” 

News of Kenny McLean’s new longer team contract was officially released during the club’s US trip. But the likes of Teemu Pukki, Todd Cantwell and Sam Byram are among a clutch of senior players approaching the final months of current Carrow Road deals.  

Smith revealed on Friday there are no other imminent announcements, and indicated City may look to add in the January transfer window. 

“No, there's nothing imminent. Kenny was one that we felt we could do and it was quite straightforward,” said Smith. “With Kenny we know what we get, day in day out. He was only too happy to sign a new contract, so I thought it was a ‘win win’ for both sides. We've discussed obviously the other players who are out of contract, but no further on that.  

“In terms of January, we won't be looking to do too much. We will look to do something but not too much at all. We've got a good enough squad. We've obviously had a lot of players who've been injured.

"Now Andrew (Omobamidele) and Adam (Idah) are back, then Sam and Lungi (Jacob Sorensen) are not far away.

"We've also added Isaac Hayden, essentially, from the start of the season. We've got a number of players that help us strengthen the squad without having to bring players in.” 

City’s young Irish duo played 30 minutes in a practice game last weekend against Manchester City at St George’s Park.

Byram has missed the last two games with soreness in a hamstring tendon, while Sorensen has been out since the opening month with a broken foot. 

But Jon Rowe’s injury-hit season continues, with the young wide player now facing another two to three months out following ankle ligament surgery. 

“In Tampa he's rolled his ankle with no one around him,” said Smith. “He's had what's called a ‘tightrope’ surgery procedure and we expect him to be out for two to three months. That will fix it and he’ll be back in a couple of months or so.

"It is tough for the lad because he was in the end stage of his rehab and had returned to training at the end of the last period of games. 

“That is where Sam and Lunghi are right now. They're not far away from being involved in the first team squad.

"With Adam, especially, we'll have to manage him because, as my medical team has told me, he's a ‘joint compromised’ athlete. So he gets a bit of fluid on the knee every now and again. We have to make sure that we manage him. But he's training really well at the moment.” 

Smith’s biggest doubts for the trip to Wales remain international duo Marcelino Nunez (hamstring) and Josh Sargent (ankle), who landed awkwardly after hurdling a challenge in the US’s 1-0 World Cup Group B win over Iran.