Norwich City full-back Jack Stacey has been faultless for Johannes Hoff Thorup despite his understudy status.

The 28-year-old has become a consistent feature on the Canaries' bench since young talent Kellen Fisher's rapid rise to a regular starting berth, and is having to bide his time while he waits for the minutes he expected this summer.

Head coach Thorup has praised Stacey's work rate on the training pitch, however, commending him as an example of what he wants from his fringe players.

"I cannot say anything critical about Jack, because he's training on a very high level every day," the Dane told the Pink Un. "As everyone knows, it can go so quickly in one direction or another. There can also be tactical choices why we prefer another type of player for a certain match, you never know.

"The only thing you can do as a player when you are not in is make sure that you are ready when you are given the chance, and I think what he shows is that he is ready.

"Of course Kellen is performing well in that position and has been doing well consistently, so it's been tough for Jack to be honest. I don't think it's a situation that he expected when the season started, but that's sometimes how quick it can go.

"But you have to flip it and see it from the other side. How quickly it went in that direction it can also be in the other direction in the same kind of speed, so you just have to stay fit."

Part of City's right-back equation is their tactical setup, with Thorup preferring someone in an inverted role rather than Stacey's more traditional brand of wide play. But he says there's still room for the former Bournemouth man in his team, even if that would require a reshuffle.

"We can easily shape the team so it benefits the players that we have, and we can easily find solutions where he can be in the positions that are best for him," continued the Norwich boss.

"We can play with a low-dropping midfielder on that side and then push Jack up on the right side. That's fine for us, so I think what is most important for us is that he just shows that high level every day, especially in training and then of course also when he gets the minutes.

"There is real competition, but we have chosen Kellen because I think he's doing really well."