Norwich City’s players know full well that a fast start to the Premier League resumption is essential to their survival hopes and Tom Trybull has his eyes fixed on defying the odds again.

The Canaries transformed from a mid-table side to deserved title winners in Daniel Farke’s second season in charge in the Championship but saw momentum checked in the top flight by a defensive injury crisis.

Victories over Bournemouth and Leicester kept City’s hopes of a great escape alive prior to football’s suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic in March but they remain six points from safety with nine games remaining.

That resumes with home games against teams in the bottom half but with few survival concerns in Southampton and Everton, with Trybull saying: “It’s not an easy mission, of course not, but the first few games they are very important and they will decide in which way we will go and the journey we will go on.

“We have to win and get the points but I know also that we have a good squad and we have showed already during the season what we are capable of and that we are always good for a surprise.

“It’s kind of a reset, we have nine finals and we have to get as many points as possible.”

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City continue preparations with a friendly against Tottenham today, with players continuing to be tested for Covid-19 twice a week. There was just one positive test in the latest round of results announced by the Premier League on Wednesday, taking the total to 14 from 7,474 carried out so far.

Trybull continued: “The circumstances are not easy, of course not, it’s difficult but I think the club and the plan with what we are doing with all of this testing, it’s a good way and it shows that we are on the right path, in my opinion.

“That we get tested two times during the week is quite important and especially for me, I can’t speak for everyone, it makes me much more comfortable to know that the tests are negative and we can crack on.

“Also the club, how they prepare everything, that everyone is feeling safe and following the rules is important and they are doing well. Also knowing that of my team-mates we have no one, not even one case, shows that everyone feels responsible for the situation and that’s good.”