Paul Lambert issues Norwich City prediction | OneFootball

Former Norwich boss Paul Lambert knows how to get out of the Championship, and believes the Canaries can do it next season under Philippe Clement

Norwich City's surge up the Championship table under Philippe Clement was incredibly impressive, but their disastrous start led to their play-off bid falling short.

The Canaries were second bottom in the second tier when the Belgian boss was hired as the new head coach at Carrow Road in mid-November, but from then on, Norwich picked up the fifth-most points in the division.

In 2026, Philippe Clement's side accumulated 44 points in 22 games, level with Coventry City and Millwall and just four fewer than Southampton. Doing all that with an extensive injury list too, it's safe to say that plenty are looking forward to what Norwich can do with the Belgian in his first full season in charge.

The Canaries have a rich recent history at the top of the Championship, but have fallen short of those expectations in the past few years. Next year will mark their fifth consecutive campaign in the second tier, their longest stint in the division since a four-year one in the mid-2000s, which ended with relegation to League One in 2009.

But, there's plenty of optimism that next season won't end in a third-tier relegation, rather the opposite, with many backing the Canaries as early promotion favourites ahead of the offseason.

Paul Lambert backs Norwich City to aim for promotion next season

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One man who knows how to get Norwich out of the Championship is Paul Lambert, who was the mastermind behind the club's back-to-back promotions from the third tier to the Premier League between 2009 and 2011.

The 56-year-old Scot feels that, under Philippe Clement, the Canaries can replicate that success and get back into the Premier League for the fourth time since Lambert's initial promotion 15 years ago.

Speaking to Casinostugan, per the Pink Un, Lambert said, "I think the way Norwich is, the only team in that kind of area, it's [Carrow Road] is always full, which is great for them.

"It gives you a chance with a fanbase like that, similar to Scotland's fanbase and their passion. Norwich had a good little run towards the end of the season, so I think when you look at that, you do have expectations.

"The Championship is really tough, but the way the club is, they can have a wee run at it. They should be aiming for promotion next season."

The turnaround in home form was key to getting Norwich's season back on track under Clement, after the club lost their first eight in all competitions under Liam Manning at Carrow Road.

From Clement's appointment in November, the Canaries lost just four more times in front of their home fans and won 11, which is what the loud, passionate fanbase in Norfolk wants to see.

Replicating that form throughout the campaign, as Lambert alluded to, will be key to mounting that promotion charge next season.

Norwich City will have to work hard to earn promotion next season

Next season's Championship campaign is set to be a really competitive one, to the point where it's forecast to be difficult to even finish in the play-offs, despite its expansion to six teams.

Two seasoned Premier League sides are coming down in Wolves and one from West Ham or Tottenham, alongside Burnley, who have been promoted in each of their last two seasons at the level.

Additionally, there's the regular top dogs alongside Norwich who will have their names in the hat, such as Sheffield United, Southampton and West Brom, plus teams who will have eyes on kicking on from this past year, like Millwall, Derby County, Wrexham, and Birmingham City.

It's really hard to choose who will be in the Premier League in 2027/28, especially with it being months until the campaign even starts, but Norwich will fancy their chances if they can maintain their form for three quarters of the campaign across a full season.

Philippe Clement will need to be backed in the summer, and if he can bring in some more high-quality stars, like he was able to in January, there may be no stopping the Belgian's side next year.