Dean Smith is out to show his apprentice Thomas Frank he still has a trick or two up his sleeve in Norwich City’s epic Premier League tussle on Saturday with Brentford.

Smith hand-picked the Dane back in 2016 to be part of his coaching team, when he was in charge of Brentford. Frank has since followed him to the big time, but there can be no old pal’s act at Carrow Road.

The duo took a point apiece earlier this season, when Smith was Aston Villa boss, and the City head coach admits the stakes are now much higher for both clubs.

Norwich would cut the gap to Brentford with a win to four points, with a league game in hand.

“We are still friends and we keep in touch. He is a good guy,” he said. “But obviously not for these 90 minutes. It's nice to see Thomas up there now at the top table as a head coach, having been my assistant when we brought him in at Brentford.

"I interviewed five or six different people when we wanted to bring in a new assistant manager, and Thomas was the one who stood out. It's not surprised me that he's done so well.

"His character, his personality. his knowledge, his hunger, everything about it felt like it was a really good fit for me as well.

“That game earlier this season with Villa was 1-1, and I think it was Emi Buendia’s first goal for the club.”

Smith still has a soft spot for the Bees, after playing his part in a fairytale rise to the top tier.

“It was a really enjoyable period for me. I had three great years after moving from Walsall,” he said. “I really enjoyed working with Matthew Benham (the owner) and his team.

"You could see the direction the football club was going in, with Matthew at the helm. Villa came calling at a time when I felt that we had a better team than Villa.

“I just believed Villa was a bigger club, and one that I couldn't turn down at that time. But everybody associated with Brentford knows that. I was really chuffed for them when they got promoted.

"There's still players there I brought in. Unfortunately, Josh Dasilva won't be playing because he got obviously sent off in the last game. Rico Henry is still there and Sergi Canos, just to name a few.”