Youssef Safri is still hoping for a warm reception when he returns to Carrow Road tomorrow.The Moroccan midfielder made an acrimonious exit from Norwich City two weeks ago with manager Peter Grant highly critical of him on his departure.

Youssef Safri is still hoping for a warm reception when he returns to Carrow Road tomorrow.

The Moroccan midfielder made an acrimonious exit from Norwich City two weeks ago with manager Peter Grant highly critical of him on his departure. His late arrival for the team photo call was the final straw.

But Safri insists there are no grudges and is optimistic City fans will remember his three good years at the club even if he puts one over them with the Saints.

He said: “It's quite hard to say what reception I will get but to be honest I had three years there and they were really, really happy.

“I was one of the favourite players for the fans. I don't know what the reaction will be.

“I have a lot of friends there and nice memories of the people I worked with but I'm playing football and my work is to win.

“As a player I don't mind anything. Obviously I would like people to cheer my name because I did well there but if it's the opposite I'm a player and I'll work hard because it's my job.

“Every game I try to give my best and 100 per cent and I'm sure against Norwich I will give my best for my team because I want to win after two games and the club needs that good result.

“It won't be easy for me or our players because they have good players but everybody's looking for the win and we know what we have to do and hopefully we can get a result.”

Safri says morale in the Saints' dressing room is still high despite their shaky start to the season and he believes just one win could trigger a good run.

“I don't think it's a massive problem. You have to work hard," said Safri of the defeats by Crystal Palace and Peterborough.

“We lost the first and second games but the players are focused, we know what we did and what we have to do in this game.

“We have to work harder and harder to get that first result from this season and that will give us confidence to win more games.

“The reality of football is it's better to make a mess of the first games than the last, but you have to learn from it and go forward and focus on the next game.

“The morale is good for the players because we are talking about focusing on the next game and how we can win it.

“That's football - you have to be focused. Getting confidence helps but this football club has good players. We need a bit of luck and we will be fine.

“I don't think we mind how the win comes - just to have the win will be good.”

Asked about Safri yesterday, Grant said only: “He's nothing to prove. I know he's a good player. Nothing to prove to me.”