NORWICH City manager Alex Neil has urged the players he selects for Tuesday night's EFL Cup second round tie with Coventry City to 'stake a claim' with their performances.

With the match coming just two days after Sunday's East Anglian derby at Portman Road, the City boss has hinted at the likelihood of making changes to his squad.

That may offer the chance of competitive action to those yet to be involved so far this campaign, and Neil told the media on Monday afternoon: "It's a case of players showing they're up-to-speed and ready.

"They're desperate for their chance. The one thing I've tried to do is play the guys I deem most ready to play, which is how I pick the team.

"Unfortunately some of the boys, like Russell Martin, were out with injuries. That put him behind some of the other boys and he's now got to stake his own claim for the shirt.

"It's a case of whoever is performing the best will play. We've got players who have had to bide their time, so this a good opportunity for them."

City have first-hand knowledge of what Coventry bring, having come up against Tony Mowbray's Sky Blues as part of their pre-season schedule.

"It will be a tough game for us because they're an expansive team," the Norwich boss explained.

"Tony's got them working in a way which all his teams do. They will be comfortable on the ball and are a good side technically.

"We're going to have to make sure we match that and that our use of the ball is better than theirs. When we haven't got it, we've got to also have a good method in order to get it back.

"Their players will come into it off the back of playing quite a few games, whereas some of our boys will be coming into a team which hasn't been playing together heavily for the last three or four weeks.

"However, we're at home and want to win the game. I expect any team I put out to go and do that."

ALEX NEIL: A CHANCE TO STAKE A CLAIM

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