The attitude of Ibrahim Amadou as he unexpectedly tackles life as a Premier League centre-back has left Norwich City’s players rather impressed, goalkeeper Tim Krul has revealed.

Amadou was brought in from Sevilla on a season-long loan primarily as a defensive midfielder, with a view to a potential permanent switch if City survive in the Premier League, reportedly for a £9million fee.

However, City's defensive injury crisis has seen him used as a defender so far, with a mixture of excellent work and positional lapses providing a real challenge for the 26-year-old - leaving him open to criticism after three successive defeats.

"It's harsh on him, it's not his position," Krul said. "He said sorry to the boys and we said straight away 'you don't have to apologise' but that's the sort of person he is.

"He felt it. It really hurt him and that's really good for the younger players to see someone like him putting his hands up when it's not even his position, but that's the spirit we're going to need."

The former Lille captain was an integral part of a positive 0-0 draw at Bournemouth last weekend though and looks almost certain to continue in defence until December, when Christoph Zimmermann and Grant Hanley are due back from injury.

Krul continued: "I'm shouting at him in French! He's doing really well. For him to come into a different country, the Premier League, in a different position, I think we have to give him massive praise.

"He read a lot of situations and crosses (at Bournemouth), he read headers and got corners away. We've been quite vulnerable at those set-pieces and I thought we dealt with it really well."

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With Ben Godfrey limping off five minutes into the second half of the draw at the Vitality Stadium, Alex Tettey also dropped back from midfield to partner Amadou - but Godfrey is expected to be fit to face Manchester United on Sunday.

"It's difficult, you can't plan for four centre-halves being injured," Krul concluded. "But luckily enough Alex is so talented and experienced, because it's not easy when you've got (Dominic) Solanke and (Callum) Wilson trying to run in behind for 90 minutes."