Norwich City have confirmed that a maximum of 8,000 supporters may be able to attend their opening home games of the Championship season, as provisional plans for how fans can return to Carrow Road are put in place.

The Canaries are still waiting for approval for the first home game of the season - against Preston on Saturday, September 19 - to be used as a test event for ensuring the appropriate health and safety measures are in place.

The government have cautiously started allowing some sporting events to move from behind closed doors to having a limited capacity, with sufficient social distancing maintained and measures such as temperature checks and masks being worn by spectators when not in their seats.

A statement on City’s official website explains: “Whilst Norwich City still await confirmation from the government and EFL surrounding a return of supporters to matches at Carrow Road, the club can now outline how season ticket holders and members can apply for tickets to attend the club’s opening home league games of the 2020-21 season.

“The club has worked closely with its Safety Advisory Group and has agreed for a maximum of 8,000 supporters to attend games at Carrow Road, subject to government, EFL and ground regulations.

“Initial government guidance had indicated that City’s October fixtures would take place in front of a reduced stadium capacity, though the club is yet to receive confirmation from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and relevant governing bodies for the club’s pilot fixture against Preston North End.

“This ticketing process has been developed to guarantee season ticket holders, should they so wish, an opportunity to attend at least one of City’s home games at Carrow Road over the course of September and October.

“All season ticket holders and members will receive a detailed written communication from the club over the coming days.”

City have not played a Carrow Road game in front of spectators since February 28, a 1-0 win over Leicester in the Premier League prior to football’s three-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tickets will be assigned in four windows. Window one is the first choice for season ticket holders, window two is second choice for season ticket holders, window three is for home and junior members subject to availability and window four is for general sale if there are any tickets remaining.

The initial application process for the Preston game, as well as the October games against Derby, Birmingham and Wycombe, is planned to begin at 9am on Monday, September 14.

Rebates for games that season ticket holders don’t get to see will be automatically issued and streams of all home and midweek away games are being made available for free to season ticket holders on the club’s website.

The statement continued: “Season ticket holders will receive a full pro-rata rebate for any home games that they are unable to attend, due to enforced social distancing measures, an unsuccessful ticket application or they simply do not wish to attend.

“Rebates will be placed on the season ticket holders’ personal ticketing account 10 days after each game. Season ticket holders will then either be able to use this to purchase future ticketing products, or have the ability to withdraw the value of credit to the card saved on their account.”

Details of rebates of 50 percent on memberships have also been released, with confirmation that fans being able to attend away games will not return while clubs are only able to open stadiums to reduced capacities.

For full details of how to apply for tickets, rebate details and how to access match streams, go to canaries.co.uk.