Norwich manager Neil Adams looks to youth to secure Premier League status with crucial Fulham encounter

Norwich's difficult run-in means they must win against fellow-strugglers Fulham otherwise they would need to spark a miracle against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal

Neil Adams has been given five matches to keep Norwich in the Premier League after Chris Hughton was sacked (Getty Images)

New Norwich boss Neil Adams will have no qualms throwing a number of youngsters into the Canaries first team as he looks to fight off Barclays Premier League relegation.

The 48-year-old former Norwich winger was appointed manager at Carrow Road after Chris Hughton's 20-month reign was brought to an end following a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to West Brom.

Now former youth coach Adams must guide the Norfolk club to safety, with their current position of 17th in the table more precarious when their remaining fixtures are taken into account.

After facing fellow strugglers Fulham on Saturday, Norwich will come up against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in their final four games.

Yet Adams will not hesitate to promote from within if he feels a number of the players he knows well from his time in the academy, where he delivered the FA Youth Cup last season, can add something to the current first-team crop.

"Obviously I have got a great knowledge of them all," Adams said, when asked if youngsters could be fast-tracked into his side.

"Knowing what happened last year, we had a great run in the cup and even players above them age-wise and the players who are out on loan. I have a good knowledge of them all and any player I feel will do us a job I won't hesitate to use them.

"We have got to go and pick a team to win a game at Fulham and, rightly so, I can understand people making a lot of reference to the Youth Cup team, because it was a fantastic achievement and one we were extremely proud of.

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"If I feel any of those players are ready to come in and give us a hand then age is not a barrier. Equally, I know their strengths and weaknesses and what they are capable of, and of course that will come into my thinking when we sit down to pick a team."

With Adams confident his more inexperienced players can cope with life in the Premier League, he has also backed his own ability to perform under pressure despite a lack of first-team managerial knowledge.

"The qualities I will be looking to stamp down on are tactics, motivating players and getting them to play to instructions," he said.

"The game is the same at whatever level and obviously now I'm managing at the top level, where the margins for error are smaller than the further down the ladder you go but the principles are the same."

PA