Premier League preview No12: Norwich City

Guardian writers' prediction 16th (This is not Jamie Jackson's prediction, but the average of our writers' tips)

Last season's position Second in the Championship

Odds on winning title 5,000-1

Two years on from departing Colchester United for Norwich City, Paul Lambert has emerged as the latest bright young managerial thing. How high the Scot's stock can eventually rise is about to be tested in the glare of the Premier League.

A 7-1 opening-day defeat by Lambert's United in August 2009 was enough for Alan Bowkett, the Norwich chairman, to sack Bryan Gunn and bring in the man who became the first British player to pick up a Champions League winner's medal when Borussia Dortmund won it in 1997.

Consecutive promotions were duly secured by Lambert to return Norwich to the Premier League for the first time in six years, as the 41-year-old added further sheen to his resume. Now Lambert's challenge is the old one of ensuring City do not drop back immediately, while attempting to build a base that can protect Carrow Road from second-season syndrome should he succeed.

Lambert, a shrewd man and an astute media operator, has shown a ruthless streak. So far he has released four players from the squad that finished second in last term's Championship – Matt Gill, Sam Habergham, Owain Tudur Jones, and Jens Berthel Askou – and told five others to explore other options.

Regarding Cody McDonald, Oli Johnson, Steven Smith, Stephen Hughes and Anthony McNamee, Lambert says: "They've been fine, they haven't been obstructive or anything like that. They know the situation, it's up to them to make their agents work for them." As a message to the unwanted quintet, and the players he does rate, Lambert could not be clearer.

Flush with the new money promotion brings, Lambert has also been on a minor spending spree as he searches for the successful blend. Arrivals include Bradley Johnson from Leeds United on a free, Anthony Pillkington (Huddersfield Town, £2m), Steve Morison (Millwall, £2.8m), Elliott Bennett (Brighton & Hove Albion, undisclosed), Ritchie De Laet (Manchester United, loan) and James Vaughan (Everton, £2.5m). All played in the 7-0 win at Gorleston Town last month, with Kyle Naughton also joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

After Morison and Bennett scored in the 3-0 friendly win at Coventry City, Lambert said of the latter: "He's only a young kid but I think his ball for Steve was a terrific ball and his strike was a fantastic strike."

City have lost only once in their eight pre-season matches, and they defeated Parma 3-0 on Saturday. The manager says: "The work ethic and desire are there in abundance and I'm delighted with everybody. There's some really good aspects of our game at the minute, but I don't read too much into pre-season games because it's a different atmosphere. When it's for real, that's when it matters."

The former Scotland midfielder is one of only two British players to win the Champions League with an overseas club (Steve McManaman is the other).

If he can establish Norwich City as a fixture in the Premier League that achievement will be matched.