Norwich novice Neil shows nous with Mulumbu move from Baggies

Creating a sense of competition for places, something identified in the above quotes, is a smart move from Neil, who will be the youngest Premier League boss at 33 next season. Tettey’s dirty work at the base of midfield allowed former Leeds United pair Jonny Howson and Bradley Johnson to get back to their box-to-box best, and this was a major factor in the Carrow Road club enjoying immediate promotion.

All that notwithstanding, Mulumbu’s Norwich move means there is a seasoned professional proven at Premier League level ready to step in if being faithful to tough-tackling Tettey doesn’t work out. Again, Neil had notably picked up on this.

Mulumbu, 28, has had four full seasons of Premier League football under his belt and should pass 150 English top-flight appearances some time this term.

Natural width down the left-hand side is now something to look at. Canaries player of the season Johnson did a decent job there toward the end of the campaign, but will find top-flight full backs too astute to his tucking in from that flank.

Also to be assessed are a number of Norwich names loaned out or on the fringes. The likes of Northern Ireland international frontman Kyle Lafferty and Dutch counterpart Ricky van Wolfswinkel could be coming back to Carrow Road with the slate wiped clean.

Neil needs to decide whether to make squad space for the fruits of the Canaries’ own nest to come through too. Left back Harry Toffolo showed some promise at beaten League One play-off finalists Swindon Town, but the Murphy brothers, Jacob and Josh, may need to move on.

Norwich open their Premier League campaign with a home game against Crystal Palace, and the Eagles’ approach of building a platform of stability to push on from survival scraps into mid-table is a blueprint Neil needs to follow. The Canaries are 6/4 shouts to send Alan Pardew’s side back to London with nothing.