Norwich City centre-back Danny Batth was happy to bide his time preparing to see match action.

The 33-year-old was signed from Sunderland on transfer deadline day at the start of September, but only made his first Carrow Road start in Saturday's 1-0 win over QPR.

That was just his second full 90 minutes in yellow and green, having played a starring role in the late 3-2 win over Cardiff earlier this month.

The former Wolves man says he had no issues waiting for game time, however, and was happy to ensure he prepared as well as possible until called upon by head coach David Wagner.

"There are good players here, which is good for me because it means that I've got to be at my best every day," he said after that QPR win. "It challenges me every day and I've had to be patient, but if I get an opportunity it's about how I wait and how I prepare myself when that opportunity comes along.

"For me it's a case of making sure that I'm prepared and ready whenever I'm called on. I can't control selection or form or anything like that, so for me it's a case of giving everything each week in training.

"If I'm not selected then I'm not selected, but I'll be a good team-mate and I'll support the team. It just gives you hunger and desire for when you do get an opportunity."

Batth won a place in the Championship's team of the season as the Black Cats stormed to the play-offs last term, but didn't go in search of minutes after finding himself on the bench in Norfolk.

Instead he was satisfied that Wagner would see his hard work, and that it would pay off in the end.

"I think the gaffer's seen from the way I conduct myself around the place that I'm always ready and I'm prepared to play whenever I'm needed," he continued. "I'm hoping to build on this form, and obviously a run of games for me would get me to my top level.

"Then I'm confident at this level that I'll be a good player for this club. Obviously I've had a few cameos, but this was my first start at home. It's one of those where you want to tick your first one off. Let's go forward and build on that."