Tom Cleverley is excited to reignite his tough personal battles with Kenny McLean as his Watford side prepare to face 'transitional' Norwich City. 

The former midfielder, now the Hornets' head coach, will take his side to Carrow Road on Saturday, hoping to end City's long unbeaten run in NR1. 

Cleverley only ended his own playing career in July 2023 but has recalled his intense battles on the pitch with McLean in previous contests with Norwich, something that will take a different form as the sides prepare to do battle. 

Watford arrive at Norwich after a week that has seen Johannes Hoff Thorup's men lose two key members of his coaching staff in Narcis Pelach and Paul Clements to Stoke, but the 35-year-old isn't expecting that to impact events on the pitch. 

“It’ll be a little bit unsettling but more for the staff than the players,” Cleverley told the Watford Observer. 

“They are a team that like to get a lot of players around the ball, connect passes, take risks in their build. We have to respect them as they have a good balance in their squad.

“Kenny McLean was always one of my toughest opponents as a player, and a player I respect a lot.

“They have a lot of experience but are maybe just going through a transitional period with their style of play.”

Norwich have picked up five points from as many Championship matches as they continue to adapt to life under Thorup and his desired way of playing. 

A defeat to Swansea was a frustrating setback after victory over Coventry, with Norwich hoping to bounce back by recording their first Carrow Road win of the season on Saturday. 

Johannes Hoff Thorup is five games into his Norwich City project. Johannes Hoff Thorup is five games into his Norwich City project. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) With a bigger sample of evidence about Thorup's style, Cleverley is confident there will be no surprises for his side to contend with as they seek to continue their bright start to the Championship campaign. 

“I think it does help, certainly in the first couple of games,” said Cleverley. “Now I think we’ve got enough footage and understanding, five games in, of how they’re going to play and their coach’s style.

“But certainly if we were facing Norwich in the first game or two it would have been quite a challenge.”