Michael Bailey Ryan Bertrand is confident the Norwich City side he was so excited about rejoining in the summer will deliver the goods this season.The 19-year-old left-back spent the second half of last season on loan at Carrow Road from Chelsea and was arguably the Canaries' most consistent performer.

Michael Bailey

Ryan Bertrand is confident the Norwich City side he was so excited about rejoining in the summer will deliver the goods this season.

The 19-year-old left-back spent the second half of last season on loan at Carrow Road from Chelsea and was arguably the Canaries' most consistent performer.

He certainly impressed Glenn Roeder enough for the City boss to take the England Under-19 international on loan again this season and Bertrand believes he is lining up in a far better side.

“Yeah, that's why I was really excited about coming back here with the players he's brought in. I mean no disrespect to last year's team but I think this team as a whole, in depth as well, is really strong,” said Bertrand, who feels City are only a small step from making progress.

“So far it's just been the end product really. It's not like we are not making chances, it just comes down to putting them in the back of the net.

“All the boys are flying in training and I'm sure it is just a matter of time before the forwards get a couple each.”

The Chelsea youngster suffered an ankle injury in the pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur, ruling him out of City's opening away defeats at Coventry and MK Dons, which was ironic given the defender's work to bulk himself up over the summer thanks to the Canaries' conditioning staff of Alan Pearson and Mark Garfoot.

“I've tried to,” he said. “I'm feeling much stronger and I'm working with the background staff in the gym, so hopefully I'll continue to get stronger.

“It has been really positive to be honest. The organisation is really good on and off the field and we have got Big Al and I'm working with Mark. He's working on the individual programmes for us all to get us stronger and more powerful, so we can just run all over the other teams. I think the main thing is we can keep that tempo.

“It was quite frustrating being out injured and seeing all the boys training, especially right at the start of the season and start losing fitness so soon, so it's good to be back and I've just got to try and get my fitness back up.”

Ninian Park awaits for Bertrand's first away day with the Canaries this season, a ground where the left-back created Ched Evans opener before the striker hit an injury time corker to seal a 2-1 win over Cardiff last term - a game during which Bertrand battled through a stomach illness.

“I'm looking forward to going back there and hopefully we'll get another three points, get that win and some goals as well,” he said. “I think, importantly, we have to make Carrow Road a fortress and have teams worrying when they come down here. We need to make sure we get more wins here, but we'll look to improve the away games and hopefully we can get more points in that department as well.”

Bertrand admitted it was great to see his Chelsea team-mate John Terry confirmed as Fabio Capello's England captain, with Terry leading England to a limp 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic at Wembley last night.

“It is brilliant to see JT retain the captaincy, he is a born leader, said Bertrand. “John Terry is really professional in the way he plays, he is one of the top defenders in the world, as you've seen over the years, but off the pitch as well, he is a really nice guy, really approachable and he would help you with any part of your game.”

Roeder was adamant when he re-signed Bertrand he hoped there would be a good chance of the Chelsea starlet remaining at Carrow Road for the rest of the season, and the defender would have no problem being s fixture at Carrow Road for the entire season.

“I guess that is in the back of my mind really, that it is only until January,” said Bertrand. “But at this moment in time, I'd have no hesitation in making it until the end of the season.”