Tom Kearney is back from 12 months of injury hell. And he hasn't returned for a relegation scrap.

The midfield tiger is itching to kick off the new season against Norwich tomorrow. It will be virtually a year since he was stretchered off in a 0-0 draw with Grimsby, a torn cruciate ending his campaign before it had begun.

Now Kearney is back, as confident as ever. And just like with his tackling, the 21-year-old pulls no punches aboutwho City's season will pan out.

"I definitely don't see us struggling," he declared. "I think we should be pushing for the top half of the table.

"Fingers crossed, if we keep the lads fit and the squad healthy we'll achieve that.

"West Ham will be up there despite selling a lot of players and probably Sunderland as well. And I've got a feeling that Walsall could surprise people and do well.

"But we've just got to look after ourselves and I'm confident that we'll be fine."

A home opener is the perfect stage for the new-look City to present their case. Nicky Law has options for most positions but Kearney is likely to get the nod for a midfield holding role, especially with Peter Atherton crocked again.

Kearney, who signed a two-year contract in the summer, said: "I think I can do a bit of both, pushing forward as well as playing deep. Depending what the team is, it will just be nice to get back in there playing again.

"I feel I'm slowly getting there and having worked all through pre-season the sharpness is returning with every game.

"I'm certainly not worried about the first big tackle. I've had a few in pre-season but it's not the same as a real game.

"Being out the game for nearly 12 months gives you a lot of time to think but I won't be daft about it."

City knocked Norwich off second spot at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium last season with a dramatic 2-1 win, Paul Reid netting both on a dream debut.

A dislocated toe has denied the Aussie the chance of a repeat. Kearney, though, has no problems as he counts down to his long-awaited comeback.

"It's a big start for everyone and we've got to get off to the right result. Norwich are a good footballing side but they do let you play.

"We've just got to get at them because we have the players good enough to win. Nobody's worried about the pre-season results, those games are all about getting the lads together and building the shape.

"It feels different for me this year because a lot of players have gone and been replaced. But that's football and it doesn't matter who you play with, you just look after yourself and hopefully do the best job for the team.

"Everyone wants to play tomorrow and we're all hungry to make it a good start."

Nicky Law has echoed chairman Gordon Gibb's call for patience from the fans as he thrusts untried players into the First Division fray.

Law said: "Barring Paul Heckingbot-tom and Dean Windass, the rest of the new players are pretty much untried at this level.

"They have got great potential and have come from bigger clubs but haven't quite grasped their first chance. This is the second chance for them here but it is going to take time.

"They are going to be up and down and inconsistent and we've seen that already during the pre-season matches. They have to learn that there's another side to the game than just playing as an individual and that won't happen overnight."

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