Emi Marcondes admitted he has surprised himself how quickly he feels at home with Norwich City.

The free agent only arrived in October, but now looks a mainstay under Johannes Hoff Thorup after four goal contributions in 10 appearances.

The Danish head coach had initially appealed for patience, with Marcondes missing out on pre-season during a five-month competitive break.

“I’m really enjoying just being out there playing. Just a few months ago I was out there training by myself,” he said. “To feel the atmosphere, to hear the fans, it was what I missed a lot in the summer. To be able to live that now is what I was looking forward to for a long time and probably it is giving me an extra boost.

“I was surprised that I actually felt that good from the first training and the first game, because when you train alone you don’t know how fit you are compared to the rest of the team.

"To see that I was almost at the same level, fitness-wise, obviously game fitness is something else that you can only get by playing, but to feel very fit gave me a lot of confidence and a boost that I could go quickly into the team.”

The 29-year-old has also underlined his versatility in a number of different positions.

“Maybe just behind the striker is where I can contribute the most,” said Marcondes, who was part of a festive hospital visit on Tuesday to the children’s wards at the James Paget in Gorleston, along with team mates Oscar Schwartau and Ben Chrisene, and Norwich City Women’s duo Hope Strauss and Liv Cook.

“But I also liked the Bristol game to play as that false nine, I thought I did well. It is a good position for me as well, and even against Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff you could say I was further back, maybe a six or an eight position.

"I feel I can do that as well. My favoured position for now is just behind the striker is use my strengths in the pressing game and defending low and my engine is one of my strengths so I can get from box-to-box.”