Norwich City manager Chris Hughton has insisted that he has not been surprised by his side's difficult start to the new season.

The Canaries slipped into the Premier League's relegation zone at the weekend following Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Having succeeded a successful Paul Lambert in the Carrow Road hotseat, Hughton has stressed that he went into the job with his eyes open.

"I knew it would be a tough job. I am following somebody who had a very successful three years but we are seven games into a season. There is a lot of football to be played," he said.

"I don't feel our season was going to be judged on Chelsea and Manchester United away but how we cope with defeats and get back to winning ways. I am realistic about what the challenge is and it is always there. We have to make sure the players are very, very much up for this challenge.

"I think we are realistic where we are. We haven't started as well as we would have liked. Fortunately we are there with a group of teams who also haven't started as well as they would like."

Norwich will play host to Arsenal after the international break.