Norwich City: Alex Neil on Stoke City Championship meeting

The Norfolk club are currently fifth in the Championship, having taken 10 points from their opening five games of the 2023-24 campaign. The Potters are 16th in the second division after an underwhelming start, despite signing 18 players this summer.

Neil has no fear of his former club, however, claiming that every team in the division will have good days throughout the campaign.

"I think what the Championship does show you is that there are no givens, no guarantees in the Championship in terms of form," he said. "Their last game was Rotherham, which they lost.

"At home they've been particularly strong. I've watched both matches, so we know they're a good side – but I think everybody in the Championship on the day is going to show up well at some point.

"We just need to go there and try to play as well as we can."

The Scot spent more than two years at Carrow Road, leading Norwich to promotion via the play-offs at Wembley in 2015. He has fond memories of his time in Norfolk, and remains grateful to the joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones for the opportunity they gave him.

"I don’t think it has any bearing on the game, but as soon as you mention Norwich to me I only associate it with good memories," he continued. "Norwich were the club who took a chance on me when most others probably wouldn't have done.

"I was a completely unknown coming from Scotland and had only managed for a short period of time to then take on the Norwich job, which is a big job.

"I’m eternally grateful for that. I owe the owners, who are still there, a huge debt of gratitude."