Pride, pounds and a peg in Dean Smith’s squad are the incentives for Norwich City to up their game in the quest for a Premier League swansong.

The relegated Canaries head to Leicester City on Wednesday winless in four and scoreless in the last three.

Smith had already mapped out the financial imperative to finish one place above Watford in the table, but there was a more personal appeal on Tuesday as the planning for what comes next continues to accelerate.

“It's time for them as individuals to show which direction their careers are going in as well,” he said. “Motivating and lifting a group that's been relegated already is tough. But the players have been made aware of what is at stake. We haven't been up to the level of a lot of the teams in this league.

"I still don't believe that we're the worst team in the league, but we haven't done enough to disprove that. Ultimately, the table doesn't lie. And we've got to make sure that we try and finish 19th. That’s a big thing for us at the moment.

"Individually, they have to compete for pride more than anything, but the players know what finishing above Watford means to the football club.”

Smith confirmed Mathias Normann (thigh) misses out again after his absence from the 4-0 weekend defeat to West Ham. The City chief introduced Lukas Rupp at the interval as part of a double change, and cited afterwards a lack of athleticism in that first half.

A charge many have directed at Norwich’s central midfield from the moment Olly Skipp departed last season, to pick up his career at Tottenham.

Neither Normann or Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour have managed to fill the void, or add a different dimension on a regular basis.

“We've had the bodies that can certainly provide that but we've had injuries in those areas as well. Lukas Rupp is a prime example,” said the Norwich boss. “He's broken down too many times this season, unfortunately for him, because he shown he can bring that drive. You see him play against Manchester United at home in December.

"You think to yourself, ‘There's something to work with there,’ but injury intervenes. It has been a real stop start season with Covid and injuries.

"But certainly in that area of the pitch you need athleticism in this league. You need physicality in the league below as well, but the levels between the Championship and the Premier League for me are getting bigger. I believe that we've got a squad capable of competing in the Championship for sure.”

Leicester’s season looks in danger of tailing off as well, after their recent exit from Europe at the semi-final stage. But Smith rates the job Foxes’ chief Brendan Rodgers has done in the East Midlands.

“He'll be disappointed where they are in the league at the moment. It's been a real tough season because of the amount of games they've had,” he said. “But he won the FA Cup last year, another trophy for one of the so-called clubs outside the big six. For me, Leicester is one of the clubs that are pushing to be considered as arguably one of those top six teams.

“The European run had an impact. They got to the semi final and playing Saturday/Sunday, Thursday, Sunday is tough. I was talking to David Moyes after the (West Ham) game and they found that tough.

"They've got very good players and, yes, they're not on the greatest of runs in the Premier League, but they've got players that can hurt you.

"James Madison, who was here and sold to Leicester, Jamie Vardy coming back from injury. We know the dangers they have. We've got to go out and give our full effort. Both teams will probably be a little bit down on confidence.

"We certainly have been over these last three or four games, once relegation was confirmed. It's who turns up.”