Norwich City are undoubtedly going to be looking to win promotion back to the Premier League after dropping down from there last season.
It’s been an up and down few months for the Canaries, as the club won promotion via the play-offs in 2014-15, and that will again be the goal for Alex Neil and his men.
They are accompanied down from the top flight by Newcastle and Aston Villa, who have both spent a lot of money to try and get themselves back to the elite of English football.
And it is set to be one of the most competitive Championships yet, with the three relegated clubs plus the best of the rest from last season, Brighton, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday thought to be there or there about before even thinking of any new teams.
They open their season away at Blackburn on 6th August, with Rovers expected to be in a relegation dog fight come May. However, Ewood Park is never an easy place to go, and the Canaries will definitely have to play well if they want to win.
So here, in the opinion of FLW’s Ryan Evans, is a Norwich XI that would romp Blackburn on the opening day…..
GK: Michael McGovern
The Northern Ireland shot stopper shone for Michael O'Neill's side at the Euros, winning plaudits from around the continent as he helped his side reach the last 16 of the competition. He was specifically good in the defeat to Germany.
The 32-year old moved to Carrow Road earlier in July from Hamilton, meaning the Canaries are very strong in this department, with England international John Ruddy and England Under 21 international Declan Rudd, but McGovern probably will pip the both of them thanks to his outstanding form.
RB: Russell Martin
The Norwich captain is a very valuable asset to the club, he's naturally skilled at both right-back and centre-back.
But thanks to better performances on the right, that's where I'll put him into this XI.
The 30-year old played 30 times for the Canaries in the Premier League last time, and scored three as his side were relegated to the second tier.
His experience will be a great help in his side's quest to go straight back up, as he also won promotion to the Premier League with this team back in 2011 and 2015.
CB: Timm Klose
Signing from Wolfsburg back in January, Klose came straight into this team and was excellent in his ten games last season, suring up the back four before an injury ended his season early. Whilst at Wolfsburg, he came on as a substitute in the Champions League win over Manchester United, and played the whole game in the German Super Cup win over Bayern Munich.
This experience of playing at the very top of the game will be a great asset for the club on their quest for promotion straight back to the top flight, and the 28-year old has the ability to be one of the stand out defenders in the league.
CB: James Tarkowski
After moving from Brentford to Burnley on deadline day of February 2016, Tarkowski has struggled to get first team opportunities at Turf Moor as centre backs Ben Mee and Michael Keane seemed impossible to displace.
However, he was one of the most sought-after players in England before his move, and there's no doubt how good a signing he could be for Norwich.
The move will probably have to be a loan deal as the Clarets are unlikely to want to let him leave just five-and-a-half months after joining, but nevertheless this is very possible.
He made 23 appearances for the Bees last season after the club backed up finishing in the play-offs during the 2014-15 campaign with a ninth place finish in the last.
LB: Martin Olsson
Olsson has made over 100 appearances for Norwich since signing in 2013, with 24 of them coming last season, with one goal and two assists too. He is a reassuring figure in this back four, and has plenty of Premier League experience both with Alex Neil’s side and with former club Blackburn.
He had five seasons with Rovers in the top flight before they got relegated, where he made 29 appearances in the Championship the next season. He was almost ever present in 2014-15 as his current club won promotion to the Premier League, so has experience of doing the job his team needs him to.
RM: Sergi Canos
The former Liverpool youngster starred whilst on loan at Brentford last season in the second tier, scoring seven and setting up five from his 38 appearances whilst at Griffin Park.
He has proven he has the ability to perform at this level, and will be hoping to reproduce some of his Bees performances whilst at new club Norwich.
Canos signed permanently for Neil’s side earlier in July for an estimated £2.5 million, and it will be interesting to see whether he can inspire his team to promotion this summer.
CM: Johnny Howson
The 28-year old is a former Leeds man, making over 219 appearances for the Elland Road club before his transfer to Carrow Road back in 2013.
He has gone on to make 149 appearances for the club since, and is one of their most important players.
Howson missed just two league games last season, scoring three times in the process, and scored eight in 37 the last time they were in this division.
CM: Wes Hoolahan
With almost 300 Norwich City appearances, there is no doubting who is the star man in this team.
Hoolahan scored four and set up nine last season, making him the club’s third highest scorer.
The Irish international also had a great European Championships, with the player scoring one and setting up a goal from his four matches, including winning man of the match in the opening 1-1 draw against Sweden.
If he can carry this form from the international stage to the Championship, he could single handedly lift his side back into the Premier League.
LM: Steven Naismith
The 29-year old joined the Canaries from Everton in January, and looked decent despite just scoring one and setting up two in his 13 appearances at Carrow Road.
In total last season, he played ten times as a secondary striker and ten more on the left wing, and was marginally more successful out wide, so that's where he's going in my team.
Naismith has 42 caps for Scotland, and will be key in Norwich's upcoming season as they look to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
ST: Dieumerci Mbokani
The striker was on loan at Carrow Road last season, scoring seven in his 29.
He found it hard against some of the toughest defenders in the Premier League, but with all due respect to the Championship defenders, should fair better in the second tier.
He was released by parent club Dynamo Kiev in the summer, paving a move to Carrow Road on a permanent basis.
However, nothing has come to fruition so far, but he would be a great signing for the club, and the fans would likely welcome him back with open arms.
ST: Ross McCormack
Norwich are looking at a whole new striking department this summer - Cameron Jerome hasn't been able to reproduce his best form on a regular basis, Kyle Lafferty hasn't been able to get a game and is going to attract a lot of interest from elsewhere and Ricky van Wolfswinkel looks like he's on his way out of the club after having two long term loan spells abroad in the last two seasons.
Steven Naismith is not at his best when he plays as an out-and-out striker, so it's probably sensible for Neil to look elsewhere for a top quality forward. In Ross McCormack, they may well have found one. The club have been linked earlier this summer for a £13 million swoop for the ex-Leeds man.
McCormack scored 21 goals and claimed ten assists from his 45 league appearances last term in a team that ended up finishing as low as 20th place.
At 29-years old, the Fulham striker is in the prime of his career and is determined to play in the top flight, and may not get a better chance to do so then moving to Norwich this summer.
He would be a great signing, and would be the 20+ goal a season striker that the club need to win promotion.
Norwich fans, what do you think? Can this side beat Blackburn in a little over a fortnight? Let us know your opinion below!