THE Canaries have been down this particular mine many times before - and are increasingly confident of finding their way out.

Norwich are back in the familiar territory of the Championship, having dropped down from the Premier League last season.

At first, the yoyo club’s fans were only cautiously optimistic of yet another return to the top flight when asked for their season predictions as part of Sky Bet’s Fan Hope Survey in June.

But that has transformed into expectancy in the course of a month, having been quizzed again in July.

The latest set of results have Norwich’s followers predicting the highest average finish in the division at 3.9, up 1.4 places from four weeks ago.

It comes after a 3-0 friendly win over Marseille, as well as the signings of Isaac Hayden and Gabriel Sara from Newcastle and Sao Paulo respectively.

A decent preseason, including a win over Hertha Berlin, also has West Brom fans feeling more enthused about the season ahead.

They are now predicting an average finish of 5.3, up by 1.6 which is, crucially, in the play-offs.

While the approval rating of Steve Bruce has shot up by 14 per cent with 67 per cent of the club’s fanbase now feeling he is the right man to take them forward.

Leam Richardson has seen a significant boost as well. Now 95 per cent of Wigan fans in favour of him compared to 71 per cent a month ago.

An unbeaten preseason may well explain it, as could 16 goals scored in just six friendlies.

Fans of fellow promoted side Sunderland are also predicting a much higher finish than a month ago, with their rise of 2.1 to 7.5 the highest in the division.

Jack Clarke’s permanent signing seems to have gone down well, even if pre-season results have not been great with defeats to Accrington, Bradford and Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Huddersfield followers appear to feel their promotion chances have taken a hit with manager Carlos Corberan’s exit and are now predicting a finish 1.4 spots lower than a month ago.

It is a similar story for Preston and Swansea, as well as Burnley whose supporters look yet to be convinced by Vincent Kompany.

In the course of a month that has seen Nick Pope, Nathan Collins and more leave, the Clarets are now predicting a finish of 6.9 compared to 6 in June.

Yet supporters of Luton and Sheffield United seem more assured than ever of going up.

Both registered a six per cent rise in a month, meaning 83 per cent of their fans surveyed feel promotion is a realistic goal this season.