Norwich City striker Jamie Cureton revealed the signing of Darel Russell has given the whole squad a lift ahead of tonight's pre-season friendly against West Ham.

Norwich City striker Jamie Cureton revealed the signing of Darel Russell has given the whole squad a lift ahead of tonight's pre-season friendly against West Ham.

Russell completed a £600,000 move from Stoke City yesterday - four years after he left the club for the Britannia Stadium - and Cureton said everyone at the club has been given a real boost in the wake of Dickson Etuhu's move to Sunderland.

The former Colchester man believes that Russell is the ideal replacement for Etuhu, who left for Wearside in a £1.5m deal two weeks ago.

"The players we're bringing in now are going to lift us a bit more," said the 31-year-old. "Dickson was a big loss because no-one sort of expected it. I got to know him quite well and we were genuinely saying about how we could do things this year.

"Obviously when you lose someone of that sort of character, it does dampen the spirits a bit but the manager is doing his best to bring people in to cover that loss and Darel will fit in really well."

Russell will be given the attacking midfielder role that Etuhu grew into at City, as well as his number 20 shirt, and Cureton believes the midfielder can have the same sort of impact at the Canaries.

"He's a Dickson kind of player. He's high energy and gets around the place and does the sort of dirty work that people don't want to do. It's just another quality player to bring in that will hopefully keep us at the right end of the table."

Cureton hopes that Russell can settle back into Norfolk life the way he has since his £800,000 move from Layer Road at the end of July.

"It's good we both obviously know the place inside out. He was here as a younger lad so we've crossed paths when I was here and since I've left. We've always got on well and chatted.

"He was one of the first people I saw the other day when he came in for his medical and I said it would be nice to get another old-boy along."

Russell and Cureton could make their first appearances upon coming back to Norwich against West Ham tonight and the striker admitted he cannot wait to line up in front of the Carrow Road faithful again.

"It will be great. Just playing my first game was great but to play out here will be special. It will be very special.

"I'm hearing that there's a lot fans coming as well so it should be good. I'll see a few old friends - you know Bellars (Craig Bellamy) and Bobby Zamora so I'm looking forward to seeing them."