David Wagner predicts Norwich City will pick up the Championship pace after going from also rans to one of the hottest teams in the division.

Only East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town have taken more points from the last six league games ahead of a titanic derby duel at Portman Road on Saturday.

But with the likes of Josh Sargent and Grant Hanley on the cusp of returns to fitness Wagner is looking at the bigger picture ahead of a congested festive spell.

“I think now with 13 points in six games. This is good. That is very good. It is what we've done in the first six games of the season as well,” said Wagner, speaking after the 3-1 Carrow Road win over Sheffield Wednesday. “But obviously the gap in between wasn't great. And now we have to make sure that we keep going, keep going consistently and put points on the board, and consistently perform on the highest possibility.

“We said we would keep going, we take it game by game and there is a big one on Saturday. We know that in the next weeks, like in recent weeks, we have important players, big players, back which will help us to consistently perform and give us a boost. This is what we need.

“And we must keep going; we keep our head high, but still focused and concentrated. We know it's a super long season in the Championship.”

Wagner was critical of his side’s lack of ‘ruthlessness’ in a drab goalless affair with Preston but his players delivered against the Owls.

“Against Preston we got criticised for not creating enough, not being creative enough,” he said. “Four days later we created a lot of good clear-cut chances and we were very creative as well and scored three wonderful goals. So this was a good improvement.

“This is exactly how it should be - get criticised, learn your lessons and the next opportunity do better. And this is what the players have done. A big credit to them.

“When you play teams like Preston you have to make sure that you have a good set-up behind the ball, that you are strong in the counter press and, obviously, as soon as you can create an opportunity you open up the gaps.

"You have to make sure that you keep the tempo high, because then later on there will be more opportunities.”