Norwich City defender Sam McCallum is relishing the “healthy competition” with Dimitris Giannoulis to be the Canaries’ first choice left back. 

McCallum was plunged straight back into the City starting XI following a foot injury as head coach Dean Smith was also without the likes of Jacob Sorensen, Sam Byram and Giannoulis. 

He has drawn praise from Smith on how he has handled the situation but the 22-year-old knows he will have Giannoulis, in particular, breathing down his neck when Championship football returns during the World Cup. 

"It's healthy competition, which is always good to have. I prefer to have everyone fit and you're almost pushing each other for that shirt,” he told the Norwich City matchday programme. "It just allows you not to get complacent, so when me and Dimi are eventually fit, it'll be good that we'll be pushing each other on and making each other better players. 

"The moment I lose the shirt it will be handed to Dimi, and I will want to fight for it back, and I'll have to up my game." 

McCallum revealed his happiness at being back at Carrow Road having spent the last two years out on loan. 

McCallum immediately returned to Coventry after signing for Norwich from the Sky Blues, spending 18 months there before joining QPR for the 2021-22 campaign. 

Smith has been impressed by the defender, who has made eight appearances so far this season. 

"I definitely enjoyed my time away," he said, "and I'm buzzing to be back and playing for the club that I'm actually owned by. 

"I'm a solid believer that what's for you won't pass you. I think my two years out on loan has done me quite well, especially how I've been so lucky to go back on loan to Coventry when I first did, when Norwich were in the Championship, so I was playing at the same level. 

"I managed to keep at that level going on loan to QPR last year, which helped me out."