Lukas Rupp is proving his Norwich City doubters wrong – but Daniel Farke was never one of those.

The experienced midfielder has started the last four Championship games and turned in an eye-catching display in the 1-0 midweek win over Birmingham.

Rupp’s versatility upon arriving from the Bundesliga last season, during the middle of a Premier League survival scrap, left many City fans unconvinced, but Farke’s faith is starting to pay off.

“I am too long in this business to get carried away. I know I can judge a player,” he said. “I am delighted for Lukas that he has proved some of his doubters wrong but if you don’t work on a daily basis with the lads it is not easy to judge. I know he wasn’t shining last season every game, but you can’t be a flag in the wind and when there is criticism you try and bend to fulfil what others want.

“You have to stick to what you believe in.

“I am just happy that people can realise how good he can be but the challenge now is to go further on.

“Then he can be a big influence for us. I am not over the moon after just a few good performances.

“Lukas had something like 150 games on a top level in Germany. He played for proper clubs like Monchengladbach, who were in the Champions League, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim. I knew what I was getting with this player.”

Rupp has looked comfortable in a deeper-lying central role either side of the international break alongside Tottenham loanee Olly Skipp.

“I trusted him he could develop but he has to go further on and maintain this consistency,” said Farke. “Of course it was a difficult start for him in a struggling Premier League side, and not in his best position most weeks. In my experience though it is important as a coach to stick to what you believe, maybe even be a bit stubborn.

“We had the same topic with Mario Vrancic in his first season when they were doubting how he can have an influence for us and now people are crying when he is not on the pitch each and every second. We had this with Teemu (Pukki).

“We were criticised for bringing a player who was not good enough for the Scottish Premiership, how could he be good enough in England and he rocked the Championship more or less alone.”