Martin boosted by fit Canaries

by Setanta Staff , 21 February 2012 football news

Russell Martin claims Norwich will be stronger than ever with Daniel Ayala, Johnny Howson and Zak Whitbread approaching full fitness.


The Canaries defender has been delighted with the progress made by Paul Lambert's side during the course of this Premier League campaign as they have defied the pre-season predictions to sit handily-placed in mid-table.

And, Martin believes that Norwich have yet to be at full strength this season so it is no surprise that, with players returning from the treatment room thick and fast of late, he is optimistic for a strong finale to the campaign.

Elliott Ward made his first appearance of the campaign in the recent win at Swansea, while striker James Vaughan was back in first team action for the first time since September in Saturday's FA Cup exit to Leicester City.

Defenders Whitbread and Ayala are close to a return from their respective hamstring injuries, while new signing Howson is making good progress from the injury he was carrying when he signed from Leeds United last month.

Fellow new boy Ryan Bennett's loan spell at his former club Peterborough has also come to an end so he too will be available for selection.

And Martin told Evening News24: "Elliott is back, Zak isn't far away and Dani - and then obviously we have Ryan coming in a couple of weeks, Jonny is training, so it's going to be tough just to get in the squad on a match day.

"That's what you want. I guess as a manager it gives him a headache every week and I guess that is what he wants, because we have got a squad of real depth and quality now.

"I think we have done brilliant up until now and hopefully all the injuries come back and it goes smoothly with them, because we are as strong as we've ever been - and that is a great thing for the run in. Hopefully we will keep picking up points and see where we go."

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Pos
Team P W D L +/- PTS
1.
Man City
38
28
5
5
64
89
2.
Man Utd
38
28
5
5
56
89
3.
Arsenal
38
21
7
10
25
70
4.
Tottenham
38
20
9
9
25
69
5.
Newcastle
38
19
8
11
5
65
6.
Chelsea
38
18
10
10
19
64
7.
Everton
38
15
11
12
10
56
8.
Liverpool
38
14
10
14
7
52
9.
Fulham
38
14
10
14
-3
52
10.
West Brom
38
13
8
17
-7
47
11.
Swansea
38
12
11
15
-7
47
12.
Norwich
38
12
11
15
-14
47
13.
Sunderland
38
11
12
15
-1
45
14.
Stoke
38
11
12
15
-17
45
15.
Wigan
38
11
10
17
-20
43
16.
Aston Villa
38
7
17
14
-16
38
17.
QPR
38
10
7
21
-23
37
18.
Bolton
38
10
6
22
-31
36
19.
Blackburn
38
8
7
23
-30
31
20.
Wolverhampton
38
5
10
23
-43
25
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