Former Norwich City starlet Sergi Canos is tipping Brentford to be the surprise package of the Championship.

Canos endured a brief stint at Carrow Road last season after arriving from Liverpool in July 2016. The 20-year-old wide player made only three league appearances under ex-boss Alex Neil and found himself out of the first team picture with Jacob Murphy’s emergence.

The Spaniard moved to the Bees in January, who finished 10th last season six points behind the Canaries, and Canos insists they are setting their sights even higher.

“The manager is convinced we can make the play-offs. That is big belief from him to us,” he said. “We now have to respond. I am really happy with the numbers I have done in pre-season but I want to build something for the league. The whole squad is believing we can do great things this year. Two years ago it was difficult as I wasn’t happy at Liverpool and wanted to move on loan. The one last year was difficult as I went to a new team and everything was new for me in Norwich.

“This pre-season has been the most enjoyable and the most important. This year means a lot for me and for everyone. You can smell that something big is coming. The most important thing is the team. After that comes me. I want to have a big year but the same for the team. I want to do better than last year and I think that will come.”

Canos, speaking to Get West London, is adamant Brentford can compete with big-spending rivals.

“You just have to know the market and get the best for the money you have,” he said. “Brentford is a small team but we have made good signings without spending the money that other teams are doing, £10m or £12m in transfer fees. That doesn’t mean anything for me. You don’t get better players with big money, I think.

“We want to do better than last season and hopefully we want to push for promotion. That is a long way in the future. This is a hard league so we must concentrate in the next few games. It is a tough league and every team is a challenge. We know what our objectives are. We just have to prepare well.”