Norwich City v Huddersfield Town: David Wagner's preview

The Terriers are the visitors as Norwich kickstart a run of four games in 10 games that could prove pivotal for the direction of their campaign. 

Wagner has wrestled back control of results to stabilise the Canaries' form, losing just one of their last seven matches after a troublesome autumn that left him under severe pressure as head coach. 

Five of their next seven Championship games come against sides residing in the current top six in a run that could prove decisive to their aspirations of finishing inside the play-off places come May. 

With injured players returning and confidence high after recent results, Wagner believes it is all set up for his side to deliver points over this important period of their Championship season. 

"We have players back and even if they can only help in the first game for 15 or 20 minutes, we have a lot of things in place.

"Now, make sure that you deliver - this is what we are asking of ourselves," Wagner said at his pre-Huddersfield press conference. 

"We have to be there from the first second with all the energy that we have to be on the front foot. We have to be very intense to be brave with everything that we are doing.

"The first game of this period is so important. Luckily, we play it at home with a big squad available with everything that follows.

"Our only focus right now should be Huddersfield. To go into this period with a win is crucial and it accelerates everything.

"We all have to be on it - we will be on the grass, and hopefully those in the stands will be as well."

Wagner has described the Christmas and New Year period as being critical to their top six aspirations as they seek to fully shake off the run of one win in 10 that left him fielding questions on his future. 

Despite the uplift in results, the focus will now shift to finding a more consistent performance level with Norwich producing moments rather than complete displays. 

Whilst head coaches will be dreading the amount of load their players will be put under in the coming fortnight, Wagner is relishing it and knows a good result against Huddersfield would tee up their chances. 

David Wagner is relishing the festive period. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Trips to West Brom and Millwall await next week before Russell Martin brings his in-form Southampton to Norfolk on New Year's Day. 

Some tricky encounters are on the horizon, but maintaining a good level of form would allow Norwich to look forward to them with relish, according to Wagner. 

"The focus is only on Huddersfield. The first two games is nothing extraordinary - to play two games in four days isn't something that you have to get your head around too much.

"It is then the extra two games," he said. "We are only focused on the next one - it is the most important thing to make sure we go into this very intense period on a high with a success and a win. Especially at home against an opponent that is very tough to break down.

"They have only lost one of their last four games but our aim is to win this game with our supporters. To go into this period with a win is crucial and it accelerates everything."

Huddersfield are flirting with the relegation zone and have become the draw specialists of the Championship under Darren Moore this term. 

The Terriers, who sit 21st in the Championship table, have lost one game fewer than City but have struggled to find victories. 

Norwich City recorded a 4-0 victory over Huddersfield in August. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Moore replaced Neil Warnock in October but has won just two of his opening 15 games in charge of today's opponents. His move to a three at the back has seen them cancel out three of their last four opponents. 

Wagner and his coaching team, Christoph Buhler, Andy Hughes, Narcis Pelach and Paul Clements, have strong connections with the Terriers having worked at the club as recently as last season in the case of the latter two. 

That knowledge has been useful when preparing for this encounter at Carrow Road as they bid to continue their improved form to start the festive period. 

"His idea is different to the one that Neil Warnock had," Wagner said.

"We know what their idea is and, to be totally honest, we have a lot of people with good connections which they had at Huddersfield and that they've had with (Darren) Moore as well.

"We know everything that we will face and hopefully we can exploit some areas where they are vulnerable. What is important is that we have a proper aggressive mindset in our head to play with proper intensity."