Alex Tettey has admitted this season could be his last in the professional game, with his Norwich City contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

Alex Tettey has admitted this season could be his last in the professional game, with his Norwich City contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The former Norway international has reemerged as a pivotal cog within Daniel Farke's side as the City boss seeks to discover a balance to his tactical approach.

Having joined the Canaries from French side Rennes in 2012 and played over 200 games for the club, Tettey's experience has already proved influential, but he couldn't prevent a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

He missed much of the second half of last season with an ankle injury and had his pre-season disrupted by a calf issue this year, before a thigh problem also caused him to miss two games recently, as the effects of a combative career put his body under pressure.

"I'm not young anymore, but I do the best that I can," said the 33-year-old.

"Rest is important, and after a game like this (against United) I sit in the ice bath longer than everyone else.

"We'll see how much more my body can handle after this season."

The industrious midfielder has emphasised the need for City's young team to build a solid defensive foundation if they are to have success in the Premier League, cutting a frustrated figure following the loss to the Red Devils.

"The foundation starts from the back, and now that we have two more players out with injury, it's getting a little difficult," Tettey told Norway's TV2.

"Our coach is demanding, and we train hard during the week. I think we're strong physically, but it's possible the Premier League is tougher for us than last year's Championship matches were."

Those comments followed Sunday's defeat extending the Canaries' run of matches without a win to five, leaving Farke's team second from bottom in the Premier League table with 10 games of the season completed.

"When we play matches, a lot goes against us. We can't win decisive situations, something you have to do to win," Tettey continued, ahead of Saturday's trip to Brighton.

"When playing in the Premier League, you do not have time to grow up and become stronger. There is battle after battle and every opponent is strong."