Alex Neil: Injuries key to Norwich play-off hopes, says former manager
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Alex Neil celebrates Norwich's promotion to the Premier League in 2015 following victory over Middlesbrough
Norwich have a good chance of reaching the Championship play-offs if they can avoid further injury disruption, says former manager Alex Neil.
He led the Canaries to promotion from the second tier in 2015, a feat matched by Daniel Farke in 2019 and 2021.
The current Norwich side, under David Wagner, are seventh in the table with 12 games left to play.
"It's really competitive this year, I think it's going to be difficult," Neil told BBC Radio Norfolk.
After taking 10 points out of 12 from their first four games of the season, Norwich only won two of the next 11 with a number of key players, including striker Ashley Barnes and Josh Sargent hit by injuries.
They have turned their form around - but Onel Hernandez will not play again this season because of a broken foot and top scorer Jonathan Rowe is not expected to return from a hamstring injury until April.
"It's so unpredictable the Championship, but I think consistency and making sure you keep key players fit, if Norwich can do that, they probably stand as good a chance as anybody in that middle block of teams that are fighting to get into the play-offs."
The Canaries only managed single seasons in the top flight under both Neil and Farke and the Scot admitted it had been a "rollercoaster" for supporters.
"What people don't understand about Norwich, which I think is an incredible achievement, is the fact that it's a self-sustainable club," Neil added.
"There are very few clubs, certainly in the top two tiers, that can say that. It just shows how well run Norwich City is as a football club."
"It's going to be difficult (in the Premier League) because when you can't compete with the riches of some of the teams around, that's naturally going to put you at a disadvantage right away.
"But if you look at the journey the club's been on, the players they've had over the last eight years, I think being a Norwich fan, although there've been some lows, there's certainly been some highs as well."
Last month, head coach Wagner criticised some fans who booed him during a 4-2 win over Watford.
And Neil - who was sacked by Championship rivals Stoke City in December - said that for a club to be successful, it was "massively important" to have everybody pulling in the same direction.
"There are examples up and down the Championship this season where managers have gone into specific clubs and the fans have just not taken to them whatsoever," he added.
"When that happens, as a coach it's really difficult because even if you go on a decent run they're waiting for that one lapse, that one bad result and then they're back on you again.
"I can understand where David's coming from. There is a fine balance between getting the fans on side and speaking a few home truths. You need to make sure everybody is wanting the same thing."