The 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship will be the first for Norwich City after their relegation from the Premier League, and the test is now there for Alex Neil's side to attempt to make an immediate return to the top flight.

It has been a quiet summer transfer window for the Canaries so far with no players joining the club, but the exit door has already seen a number of first team players depart, with Southampton paying £10 million for Nathan Redmond and Gary O'Neil leaving for Bristol City on a free transfer.

Those departures have left Norwich City short on the ground in the midfield area, so Neil must move quickly to bolster that area of the pitch before their opening league match away against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 6th August.

Here, FootballLeagueWorld writer Stevie Day identifies THREE central midfield players that would strengthen the Canaries for the coming Championship season...

Jordon Mutch

mutch

In their first season back in the second tier of English football, Norwich City will want a player with experience at this level that also has the potential to step up if they earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Mutch is that exact sort of player the Canaries need.

He was a key player for Birmingham City during his time with the club, and then played a pivotal role in Cardiff City's Championship title-winning campaign and their Premier League season that followed.

He has since found himself out of favour with his recent clubs QPR and Crystal Palace, but his natural ability in the top division is not questionable.

The former England Under-21 international would add composure and stability in the middle of the park. He is unlikely to find himself breaking into the first team at Selhurst Park with the Eagles signing Andros Townsend and showing interest in additional midfield signings.

A move to Carrow Road would rejuvenate a career that is stalling.

Gokhan Inler

inler

The signing of 32-year-old Switzerland international Inler for £3 million by Leicester City appeared to be a move that stated they were a side to be reckoned with.

Clearly, nobody saw the Foxes' stunning title-winning season coming, and it was also not foreseen that the experienced Inler would play such a minor role in their Premier League campaign.

Inler found himself down the pecking order behind the likes of N'Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, and Andy King. In the end, he only made 10 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes, leaving his future at the club in doubt.

The fitness and future of defensive midfielder Alexander Tettey is the subject of speculation right now and if he was to depart the Canaries then the wealth of experience Inler would bring to Neil's side would prove invaluable.

It would also be at a level that would suit the 32-year-old.

Alan Judge

Alan JudgeAlan Judge

The 27 year old Republic of Ireland international enjoyed a superb season with Championship side Brentford, scoring 14 goals in 38 league games from an attacking midfield position.

It was form that saw him called up to the Republic of Ireland national side, but he just missed out on making their 2016 European Championship squad. It was a glittering season for Judge as he won Players' Player of the Season, Supporters' Player of the Season, and was also named in the Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year.

It has been a rise from the depths for Judge who failed to make a first team league appearance with his first club Blackburn Rovers.

He enjoyed a couple of impressive seasons with Plymouth Argyle in the Championship between 2008 and 2010 on loan. His next move was to Notts County in League One where he flourished before making a surprise return to Ewood Park, where he once again failed to leave a lasting impression.

A positive loan spell with Brentford where he scored seven goals in 22 league games in League One was followed up by a permanent move to the Bees, as they earned promotion to the Championship where he continued his fine form.

The future of attacking central midfielder Wes Hoolahan is up in the air since his positive performances at Euro 2016, but his Irish compatriot would be more than a suitable replacement if the creative Hoolahan did leave Carrow Road.

It is a move that might set the Canaries back a few million, but they have the funds from the Redmond sale.

Norwich fans... what do you think about these three players? Are they realistic signings for Norwich City? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!