Johannes Hoff Thorup's message to his Norwich City players is clear ahead of Luton Town's visit this afternoon: "If we win then we are back."

The Canaries face former loanee Rob Edwards' side with renewed optimism, having claimed four points from their last two games and being boosted by the returns of key players from injury.

But Thorup is after a statement win to put the cherry on the yellow and green cake, as his side prepare for a hectic festive schedule.


"It would be a good step into the Christmas period of the season with a win," he said. "I think then it's fair to say that we are back again and everyone can see that. But I'm just pleased with the players being available for us again, I'm pleased with the top moments we've had in the games.

"It gives me some kind of trust in the group. I can see that if we get things right in there, with the players and the positioning, then we can really, really hurt the teams we play against and really create a lot of chances. I highlighted for the players that we created close to two expected goals within the first 15 minutes on Tuesday night.

"That's also a statement. Every team that comes to Carrow Road knows the first 15 minutes are going to be really, really, really difficult, because we come out so strong and so intense. If we win this one, then I think it's fair to say that we are back."


City go into the game as strong favourites against the Hatters, who are languishing in the bottom half of the Championship table with what appears to be a Premier League relegation hangover. The Dane has warned his players against complacency, however, asserting that anyone can lose to anyone in the second division.

"If you are just five percent off then you get punished in this league," he continued. "Yeah, we looked okay on Tuesday night and we scored some good goals, but if you just go back and watch Plymouth playing on Friday night against Watford, it's a completely even game.

"So you have to be 100pc when the game starts. You have to be switched on for all the minutes in the game, because otherwise you get punished. If you just start the games with that attitude, 'okay, I can relax a little bit, we can take it easy', then no chance. That's also what you see in the results out there.

"Even a top team can drop points to a team at the bottom, and the positions in the league table can change like that. It's a tough business, and you really, really have to be switched on and focused in all the matches. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter the name of the team or the name of the players. You have to be present."


Part of what makes the visitors such a threat in spite of their struggles is the ability to mix it up. The 35-year-old will be keen to nullify Luton's tactics, but admitted at his pre-match press conference that he wasn't certain what they'd be.

"I'm a little bit unsure," he told the Pink Un. "We discussed it [on Thursday]. I didn't watch the Champions League (on Wednesday), I watched the Championship instead, and there they were quite defensive in their approach. They looked like they were really trying to control spaces and not trying to open up too much. That's, of course, a part of their approach.

"I have also seen them be a little bit more front-footed in their pressing game, quite direct still when they are on the ball, so that's something we can expect. We have to be really, really aligned so that when we step up and put pressure that others cover space in behind us if we don't succeed in that duel.

"We can expect when they press us that sometimes they'll step up and go a little bit man-for-man, and sometimes they sit in a lower block. We have to be calm on the ball, and we have to do a lot of movements up front to be able to open them up."