Robbie Earnshaw believes there's "no way" Norwich City won't be promoted from the Sky Bet Championship this season, something which could be confirmed as early as this weekend.
The Canaries lead the Championship table and are 17 points clear of third-placed Brentford ahead of Saturday's action, having lost just five of their 40 league fixtures in 2020/21.
Speaking as a guest on the Official EFL Podcast this week, former striker Earnshaw says he's been extremely impressed by Daniel Farke's side and believes it's a question of when and not if they'll be celebrating at Carrow Road once again.
“Every time I see them, I enjoy watching them play," he said. "They’ve got good individuals that work well together as a team.
"They’re in one of those positions, a bit like West Brom were, where they’re too good for the Championship but keep stumbling in the Premier League, so they just need that bit of consistency.
"They’ve got a very good squad and I think they’re stronger than they were in the Premier League – they’re more equipped.
"There’s no way they can’t get promoted with the position they’re in right now, it’s just a question of whether they’ll finish first or second."
Norwich have kept hold of some key players this season, with Teemu Pukki again among the division's top scorers, having scored a hat-trick on their last outing against Huddersfield Town.
“The amount of games, it’s relentless," Earnshaw added.
"What you need is a very good spine and someone at the back who sets the standard by being solid. You need a good goalkeeper and Krul is very experienced, he’s doing very well. Then, you need someone who can make a difference in the tight games and score goals; Pukki impresses me so much and is a huge player for them.
"The biggest thing for Norwich was keeping him, because they could have easily lost him. He’s a goalscorer and his movement is excellent, along with Buendia and Cantwell, they all click. They kept the core of the team and kept the manager.
"The biggest thing with Norwich is their style of play, it makes a difference. When someone is missing, they can still find a way."
Listen to the full episode here.