CITY midfielder Darel Russell has told canaries.co.uk he is looking forward to the new-look Canaries squad being put to the test this season.

Russell bagged a brace as a makeshift substitute striker in City's last friendly of the pre-season, his flexibility impressing management and fans alike. The 26-year-old's performance against Colchester made him the top scorer in the Canaries' pre-season games, with a total of four summer strikes.

Asked how he felt about his performance against Geraint William's side Colchester, Russell said he was pleased with his efforts: "I feel really good about it, it was great to get two goals in, adding to the two I already got in pre-season. I would however rather them be in the season time when they mean a little bit more than they do in friendlies.

"But i's a fantastic confidence builder and a good way for me to look forward to trying to get goals in the season."

After a busy time in the summer transfer market, several new faces have appeared at the Colney training ground and in games. With Glenn Roeder bringing in fresh additions to the squad, Russell was asked what he thought of the City the shake-up of the team.

He commented: "The new players are bringing in competition but also different experiences and different levels of play, and different styles of play. For example, Wes Hoolahan has a different style and Dejan has experience.

"As the season goes on we'll learn more about each other and they'll learn more about us and hopefully we'll continue to gel as a team. The competition for places is good, it's going to bring the best out of everyone. It means that there is always someone tapping you on the shoulder trying to get your place, and as long as you have the pressure behind you it keeps you on your toes.

"It means that you have to improve and work that little bit harder to make sure you keep your place. It's always good to have competition, I enjoy it - the whole aspect of football is competition and trying to beat somebody else, so it's ultimately good for the team."

With the curtain raiser for the 2008-09 campaign at Coventry this Saturday, City's thoughts are fully focussed on the season ahead. Russell made it clear that he was optimistic about the challenge: "I can't wait for the season to start. It's been a difficult pre-season for me because there's nothing riding on it to a certain extent, obviously you're fighting for your place but you need that real competitive edge of three points going on the game. Once that comes around it becomes a fantastic feeling.

"The Championship is going to be even stronger this year and it's going to be a great league. I feel it's going to be a good season for everybody, the fans as well. So hopefully Colchester was a good test in the pre-season, it would have been nice to have had a win to go to Coventry but it just wasn't the case. Hopefully with the week's work we've got left, everything will be good."