Which player has 'fitted into the Premier League nicely' and who 'has lost his way' - the lowdown on Norwich City ahead of Sheffield United clash

But while Chris Wilder’s side have gone from strength to strength on their Premier League return and are challenging for a place in Europe, the Canaries are fighting for their lives six points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table.

However, Daniel Farke's side will arrive at the Lane tomorrow on the back of a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup and 1-0 defeat of Champions League chasing Leicester City at Carrow Road last Friday.

So, who are the City players to look out for and what makes them tick? We have spoken to David Freezer, of the Eastern Daily Press, for the inside track.

Is it a surprise that Norwich have struggled to pick up wins this season?

Yes, sadly. They may have only won five games but, as in the 2-1 loss to Sheffield United in December, they have struggled to hold on to a lead. City have won just two of their last 15 league games but have had the lead in six of the games which ended in a draw or a defeat. Prior to that a horrid defensive injury crisis destroyed their momentum from last season's Championship title triumph.

Who have been the stand out performers for City?

Tim Krul is on course to win the Player of the Season award as he's been very consistent and is a real leader from the back, with a Holland recall said to be imminent. Grant Hanley has impressed since finally rediscovering full fitness in December and local lad Todd Cantwell has also fitted into the Premier League nicely. Teemu Pukki's confidence has been knocked after a strong start and Emi Buendia has lost his way a touch since being nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for December, thanks to some seriously impressive creative stats.

Would it be fair to say Daniel Farke's job is not at risk despite Norwich's league position - and if not, why?

Farke very much has the trust of sporting director Stuart Webber, the board and supporters, with last season's success achieved ahead of schedule amid a lot of cost cutting. His attacking style of play, mixed with an honest and likeable character, mean he is still popular with most fans - although some are finding the struggles difficult to stomach, inevitably. His impact on the whole culture around the club has been huge and City fans are hopeful that he'll be able to inspire another promotion - if the great escape isn't managed this season.

What was the bigger win - Leicester in the Premier League or Spurs in the FA Cup - and can they act as a springboard for City to turn a corner in their fight for survival?

Leicester, definitely. The win was deserved and achieved amid a real united front in the stands at Carrow Road, with fans not turning on their team this season despite the disappointments. The problem was, the win seemed to inspire Watford and West Ham, who both won the next day, to somewhat negate the impact of that impressive victory. Winning at Spurs on penalties was great for morale too though, shaking off a poor opening 30 minutes to earn the club's first FA Cup quarter-final since 1992.

Who are the players likely to pose a threat to United on Saturday and how will City line up?

Buendia has seven assists but is desperately hunting for his first goal of the season, coming close with a fine individual effort at Spurs.

The Argentine is a passionate guy and that has boiled over into frustration at times. If he can channel that properly, he's got the ability to hurt any team. Most City fans expect him to get a big move if relegation isn't avoided. Farke usually sticks with a 4-2-3-1 and the defensive injury problems have prevented experimenting with three at the back.

In contrast to Norwich, United have been flying this season. Do you think City can cause an upset on Saturday?

They're definitely capable of it, as they've proved they can score goals at this level. It's all about keeping the back door shut and handling the physicality of stronger teams at set-pieces, which they've been better at in the last three months. Wilder has the Blades so well organised and motivated that you always expect a tough game, so it could well come down to who scores first, with Norwich falling apart once they were behind at Wolves (losing 3-0) but buoyant once they had the lead against Leicester. Confidence is fragile when you've been in the relegation zone since October.