Norwich City: Alex Neil 'cannot babysit' Canaries players

Norwich are currently 18th in the Premier League table

Norwich boss Alex Neil says he cannot "babysit" his players after the Premier League club began an investigation into goalkeeper John Ruddy.

City are looking into footage which appears to show Ruddy in a scuffle in a city nightlife district on Sunday.

"You're in the public eye so you've got to try to be on your best behaviour at all times and you represent the club wherever you are," said Neil.

"Their actions will have direct consequences to what happens to them."

Neil added to BBC Radio Norfolk: "I can't go and babysit them, the responsibility falls upon them."

John Ruddy (left) has been replaced by Declan Rudd (right) in Norwich's starting line-up for the last two matches

Neil's Canaries go into Saturday's match at Manchester United in the relegation zone, having won only one of their last 10 Premier League matches.

United have failed to win in their last five matches in all competitions, but still sit fourth in the top flight.

"They're not as free-flowing or maybe as entertaining in terms of goals and things like that as they once were, but they're a hard team to beat," said Neil. "They don't lose many games or many goals.

"All these games are tough, but they're Manchester United, they're four points off the top of the league so I wouldn't like to suggest they're not doing well.

"I don't think they're as formidable as they once were. I think they're a team in transition at the moment and we'll be looking to take advantage of that."