Daniel Farke’s reward for leading Norwich to their first victory of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign was the sack, with the German relieved of his duties just hours after the 2-1 success over Brentford.
Smith, who was dismissed by Aston Villa on November 7, has taken on the role at Carrow Road, penning a two-and-a-half-year deal, and the 50-year-old will be determined to get off to the best possible start this weekend.
First-half goals from Mathias Normann and Teemu Pukki proved to be enough for Norwich to win at Brentford before the international break, but the promoted outfit are still bottom of the table, picking up just five points from their opening 11 matches, suffering eight defeats in the process.
The Canaries have not been able to secure back-to-back seasons of top-flight football since 2012-13 and 2013-14, having dropped straight back into the Championship following their last two promotions, and Smith has a huge job on his hands to secure Premier League football for next term.
Norwich have lost their last three matches against Southampton in all competitions but did beat the Saints 1-0 at Carrow Road during the 2015-16 Premier League campaign.
Southampton, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Aston Villa on November 5, with Adam Armstrong’s third-minute effort proving to be the difference between the two sides.
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Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have picked up 10 points from their last four Premier League games against Leeds United, Burnley, Watford and Aston Villa to rise into 13th spot in the table.
The Saints are only actually three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and will be determined to put another victory on the board ahead of a tough trip to Liverpool in their final game of November.
Southampton ran out 3-0 winners over Norwich when the two teams last met at Carrow Road in June 2020, but they have only recorded one victory on their travels in the Premier League this term, which was the 1-0 success at Watford on October 30.
