NORWICH defender Jon Otsemobor has told First News the Canaries' home win against Sheffield United has boosted the mood of the Canaries squad.

The 25-year-old featured in the starting line-up in City's clash with the Blades last weekend, and said it felt good to be moving up the table.

"The win on Saturday was great, especially the way we won," he said. "To be fair, we've been playing well over the past couple of weeks so the mood in the camp's been pretty good and the win just tops that off.

"Obviously we got our first win away, but we're confident when we go and play away games so hopefully we can go on Saturday and get the right result. Last year we thought we could win some games and sometimes we thought a draw might be easier, but I think this year we're taking a no-fear mentality, and hoping we can come away with all three points."

As the Canaries prepare to travel to Barnsley this weekend, Otsemobor said the home team would provide City with a physical challenge the visitors would need to be ready for: "Barnsley are a physical team, last season they were physical and I'm sure this Saturday they'll be the same - if we're going to progress in the league that's the way we're going to do it.

"Myself and the lads would prefer to play a lot more football than physical stuff but Saturday will probably be a game where we have to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in."

Otsemobor, who made his third start of the season against Sheffield United, said he found having to sit out a match frustrating: "Nobody wants to sit out, especially when you train all week, you don't want to sit in the stands.

"It's something new for me and it's kind of taken a bit of getting used to so given my chance on Saturday I thought I did well. Hopefully come this weekend I can get a shirt."

With a number of new additions joining the Canary ranks over recent months, the City defender added the competition which this had created was a positive for the Norwich players. He said: "Last season I think it was a bit surreal at times especially in my position - a few times there were other players in but a lot of the lads thought last year that they would play week-in, week-out regardless on how they had done.

"I think that's completely changed now, I think that the gaffer's main priority was to get enough quality players in, so that if you don't play well one week, there's a good chance that you won't be starting the following week.

"It's good, it keeps everyone on their toes and it's competition for places, which all the top sides have. I don't mind, wherever I've been or played, I've always fought for my position. Sometimes last season it was surreal, because there wasn't really another out-and-out right back so to speak. This season it's good and I feel that I'll probably get the best out of myself in the training sessions and the games."

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Otsemobor told canaries.co.uk the Canaries were aiming high: "The gaffer talks about us staying in the top half of the table for the majority of the season and pushing on, hopefully to the play-offs. Everyone wants to get promoted and we know how difficult it is, but I think we've definitely got the players and the quality to be in the top half this season."