Alex Neil: 'Norwich City are ready for promotion'

Alex Neil has insisted that Norwich City are prepared for the challenge of returning to the Premier League.

The Canaries are currently preparing for the second leg of their playoff semi-final with Ipswich Town as they bid for an immediate return to the top flight of English football, and Neil believes that his side are strong enough to make the step up after he replaced Neil Adams earlier this season.

"When I took over first and foremost I wanted to make sure we climbed the league and if that meant we got all the way to automatic promotion then great, but if not it would have meant we would be in the playoffs," the Norwich boss told reporters.

"So if you look at any squad in the Championship my squad is as good as any to take that step up and I certainly hope that's the case, and I obviously hope we show our quality come the game on Saturday."

Norwich played out a 1-1 draw with their East Anglian rivals at Portman Road last weekend.