Daniel Farke insists Norwich City’s lowly status in the Premier League standings is not a factor ahead of Friday’s Carrow Road duel against Watford.

The Hornets are currently the only side below City in the table after 11 games, with both clubs needing a win to close a growing points gap to 17th-placed Everton.

But Farke is summoning up the spirit of last season's Championship title triumph to urge his troops to focus on the bigger picture.

"We're not so addicted to the table. I want us to go out with an attitude we simply want to win football games," he said. "If we do that we'll let the table take care of itself. We had the same approach and the same attitude last season and we were there with a brilliant finish.

"We didn't get caught up after every game thinking, 'hopefully we can stay on top spot or hopefully we can win the title'. It was more like, 'I want to go out and win football games'. It's the same right now.

"Even if we were sitting in something like seventh position you wouldn't be overwhelmed with emotions. It would still be about trying to win the next game. We are not scared because you face a big name or we have injuries to deal with.

"Of course when you face teams like Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United it's nice to gain points, but you can't take it as a given.

"That is the same whether it is United or Brighton or now Watford."

City's injury list has started to ease in recent league games, but Farke still feels it will be the other side of the upcoming international break before they can really look to kick on.

"There is a difference between being game fit and fully into their rhythm. That is why we had to get some minutes on the pitch for Onel (Hernandez) and Tom (Trybull)," he said. "With younger players you have to be a bit more careful.

"It will be also the same with our centre backs when they come back. They will return after a long-term injury, so I don't expect we can press a button and after two days in team training they deliver world class performances. You also have to accept that there could be a shaky period during the early games or there are one or two mistakes.

"It's important as a coach you don't lose the nerves, you stay calm and support them and trust them, because we need all these players back."