The sample size may be small yet the formula for Premier League survival for Norwich City would seem to be elementary — every time Gary Hooper scores, Norwich win.

A season which began with a shin injury that delayed his career in canary yellow has now taken off with goals in successive home victories. Four goals in seven starts so far is a return which warrants comparison with Hooper’s 82 in 127 starts for Celtic over three seasons.

They persuaded Norwich manager Chris Hughton to sign off on a £5million cheque this summer and it is Hooper more than any other single Norwich player who holds the key to Hughton’s continued presence in the Carrow Road dugout.

The 25-year-old kept calm to steer home the winning goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday following an intelligent and unselfish lay-off from Wes Hoolahan with whom Hooper has a meeting of minds. He admits that clinical precision is the key.

Hooper said: ‘You don’t get many chances in the Premier League. When you do, you’ve got to take them. I thought you would get more chances in a game but that’s the Premier League for you. That’s the thing that has surprised me most about coming back down from Scotland. When I was at Celtic, I would get a good four or five chances per game. In the Premier League, it’s one or two at the most.

‘I’ve had to be more patient here and not get wound up. To link the play you’ve got to work hard. The Premier League is non-stop. It’s a quick tempo game and I’m nearly getting there.

‘Wes and I link up well in training. I know it was his first start in a while but we’re on the same wavelength. I wasn’t expecting the ball for the goal, though. I would have shot in his position.

‘Playing in the Champions League at Celtic was nice but it’s not every week. It’s the regularity of the Premier League. We went to Old Trafford a few weeks ago. Now we’re going to Anfield to play Liverpool on Wednesday. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?’

While Norwich fans will not be banking on three points at Anfield, the Palace supporters who were encouraged by their side’s competitiveness in their first match under Tony Pulis will see that haul as a necessity at home to West Ham on Tuesday night.

Defender Damien Delaney revealed the emphasis that Pulis has already placed on set pieces and the manager is hoping to transfer another element of his success at Stoke.

Pulis said: ‘Selhurst Park is an intimidating place, too. The times I’ve watched games there this year, the crowd have been wonderful. If we can turn the volume up a little bit more for the West Ham game then that will help the players.’ In spite of the defeat, the sparkle in Pulis’s eyes told of his delight at being back in management.

He added: ‘Of course I’ve missed the game. I’m football mad. Everything about the Premiership is wonderful, even when you get beat — although my wife will watch the telly tonight and she won’t be too pleased at me jumping around at my age, I can tell you that now.’

—Daily Mail