MIDFIELDER Owain Tudur Jones knows a thing or two about Swindon Town and Danny Wilson having spent the back end of last season on loan at the County Ground from Swansea City.
Danny Wilson's side come into Saturday's match at Carrow Road (3pm) level on points with City, having suffered their first league defeat since the opening day of the season, at home to Hartlepool United last weekend.
Tudur Jones played in four of the opening six games for City after his summer switch from Swansea before sustaining a calf injury, but is getting back into contention again after making his comeback in the 3-1 reserve win over Northampton Town at Sixfields in midweek.
"I'm feeling really good at the moment, I have had a bit of a lay-off, seven weeks or so, but it was nice to get back on the field for the reserves on Wednesday and it is just about building up more minutes on the training field and see where we go from there really.
"I was happy with the way it went with the reserves, the way training has gone in the last seven to ten days. Obviously the competition in centre midfield is big at the moment and if the manager feels I need to get more training under my belt to get that base fitness back to where it should be, then that is fine as well but certainly if called upon I will be ready to go out there and put on a performance."
Having sustained the calf injury against Sunderland in the Carling Cup in late August, the midfielder has found it a frustrating time, especially coming so soon after Paul Lambert's appointment.
"It has been frustrating, it hasn't been enjoyable. The timing of it wasn't ideal, playing in the Sunderland game when the gaffer had only just come to the Club, not being able to perform and be available for him but it has given me a bit of time to analyse from the side and see what he is looking for from players and his team. Hopefully I can come back in and add some freshness to a squad that has been performing to high levels over the last few weeks."
After starting the season with two league defeats in three matches, the appointment of former Colchester boss Lambert has seen City claim 18 points from a possible 30 - something Tudur Jones puts down to organisation and hard work.
"I think originally he (Lambert) wanted to work on the structure of the team and make the team more solid, a lot more difficult to beat and make it harder for teams to score against us. In the initial time when he was in charge, that is where he was putting his thoughts into, from there on, once he seem to get that from his squad, there was a little bit more freedom on the ball.
"You've seen that in the last few games where the boys have started to play some good football, which keeps the Norwich way over the years and it is about having the right balance, being able to grit it out, at places like Carlisle getting the victory there and playing some nice stuff, especially at Carrow Road."
The midfield diamond has proved effective recently, utilising the ability of playmaker Wes Hoolahan.
"It seems to be a formation that is working at the moment, it has given some of the boys a sense of freedom especially players like Wes, with the ability he's got, that position seems to suit him down to the ground. If he finds himself in a bit of space, he is so difficult to play against."
City will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday against Swindon Town. After winning four straight games, the Canaries suffered heartbreak at Elland Road on Monday night, losing 2-1 to Jermaine Beckford's stoppage-time winner. However, the 25-year-old doesn't think the squad have let it affect them.
"The spirit has been great, I really don't think it has affected the boys too much. It can go either way when you lose a game that late certainly after playing so well, but we have to put that behind us now.
"To do well in this division, in all divisions, your home record has to be good and that seems to be the case, since the opening day of the season. But it will be a tough game against Swindon. I was on loan there towards the end of last season, I know the manager and quite a few of the players, they will be up for it and looking forward to the challenge. They are going to be very organised and if we can get an early goal that would really open them out."
Limited tickets remain for Saturday's match at Carrow Road against Swindon - log on to online ticketing, call 0844 826 1902, or visit the Carrow Road ticket office or the Canary Store in the Mall, Norwich for more information and to purchase seats.
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