#PLStories- Norwich boss Dean Smith previews Southampton with team news #NCFC

NEW Norwich boss Dean Smith has labelled Saints “a hard team to play against” under Ralph Hasenhuttl, ahead of his first match. The former Villa manager knows better than most with his last game in management – just two weeks ago – bringing to an end his previous tenure, following the 1-0 St Mary’s defeat. The Norfolk outfit picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over fellow promoted side Brentford last time out, but still opted to replace Daniel Farke with Smith. Speaking ahead of his all-important first game at the helm, Smith warned of the threats that Saints pose his side: “We have really good backing from our supporters. I know they'll be behind us Saturday. “But we're very respectful of Ralph and Southampton, they're a hard team to play against. “We know how difficult it is at this level. Defensively, we need to be harder to beat and we want to start there. “But with the creative talent we've got, we need to be creating more chances.” In a boost for the relegation battlers, Smith did confirm that he has a full squad to choose from with the exception of two – Christoph Zimmerman and long-term absentee Sam Byram. There were doubts over the likes of defenders Grant Hanley, Andrew Omobamidele and Ozan Kabak. But Smith confirmed: “We have a fully fit squad at the moment, apart from Christoph Zimmermann still being out. “Sam Byram is going to play 45 minutes for the Under-23s this evening.”