The former Melbourne Victory custodian had a first game to forget last week as the Canaries were thrashed 7-1 by Colchester United in League One.

Theo apologised for the team's showing but found himself axed from the side in midweek as Norwich bounced back to win a League Cup tie 4-0 at Yeovil.

On loan keeper Ben Alnwick was handed the gloves for the match and a clean sheet leaves him well placed to keep his spot for this weekend's league match against Exeter City.

He is determined to hang on to the spot now he's grabbed it but feels for Theoklitos.

"Mike's been different class," he told the Norwich Evening News. "He's come in and looked brilliant in training as he has all pre-season. Even the games in pre-season he's done very well.

"Now he's just got to work hard. We've got a good battle going on. We're good friends, but we obviously both want the number one shirt.

"You never want to see it, especially to Mikey, he's a top man and a really nice bloke. I never want to see another goalkeeper get a start like that or have a game like that."

Alnwick, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, believes the fight for the jersey is good news for the Canaries.

He added: "But that's football and when something goes wrong it's obviously a chance for someone else to get in there and it can only bring the best out of both of us."