Manning steered Bristol City to the play-offs last season, but has struggled to produce a consistent style and level of performance from a Norwich squad transformed by a series of summer signings.

He said, however, that keeping everyone at the club together, on and off the pitch, is vital as they look to turn their fortunes around.

"We're all in it together. There are so many good conversations that happen behind the scenes. At times like this, you can become fractured and the key bit for me is that we don't," Manning continued.

"At Bristol City last year, after nine games were only three points better off, the energy was poor, and we finished in the play-offs. I know how quickly it can turn.

"With the season being so slow at the start (because of international breaks), to change the energy, the whole feel of it can take a bit longer, so we have to use this period to make us tougher, to make us stronger, to make us closer together."

Manning accepted that, in the modern game, managers are fully aware that time is not on their side if they do not...