Kenny McLean wants to stay as Norwich City’s midfield heartbeat, after showcasing his versatility at centre back in the club’s Championship promotion bid.

The midfielder has looked comfortable in a series of defensive deployments this season, with his head coach, David Wagner, indicating recently he could see the 32-year-old extending his career by a positional switch.

“I'm not quite there yet. Obviously I've spoke to the manager about that and he is says that he sees me there long term,” said the Scot, who made his 48th appearance of a busy campaign for club and country as a late substitute in Scotland’s 4-0 friendly defeat against the Netherlands on Friday. “Possibly, but right now I think I think I'm still at my best when I'm in the middle.

"But if I'm asked to do a job, whether it be for certain games, or injuries, or whatever it is, then no problem.

“We looked at the way we had been playing with me there and we had kind of took more risks, but injuries played a part in that as well. If the manager asked me to do a job, I'll do whatever I can for this football club, I always have. And that's just the way it will always be.

"At the time the manager gave me his reasons for it and they made total sense. I felt pretty comfortable doing it. I know I hadn't played there previously, but I think I'm quite adaptable.”

McLean is often tasked with City’s build up from deep, but does enjoy the freedom of operating in the heart of the backline.

“It depends on the game, because you get a team who really come after you. And you need to find solutions quickly,” he said. “In the middle of the park, you don't get as much time and your head is on a swivel the whole time. At the back it is a bit more comfortable with the ball because everything's in front. Obviously, I can improve on the defensive side of things and not defend like a midfielder.

“When I do play deeper you get the whole game in front of you. You can see a striker running, whereas if I'm in the midfield, I have to see that before I turn and can play the pass. But from deeper, I think I can see more things happen.

"And I've got a lot of options with Gabby (Sara) and Nacho (Marcelino Nunez), who are desperate to go on the ball. So at times the job was pretty easy, when you're just feeding players like that the ball.”