City boss Paulo Sousa believes he can take the club back to the top flight in two years "maximum".

His building process is just in its early stages but he is adamant the target can be reached and he said:

"This is a club with only one direction. Sometimes it takes a little time but I can guarantee to everyone that, in two years' time maximum, we will be in the Premiership. We want to fight this season right away of course but in a maximum of two years we will be there."

Last season's play-off disappointment has been replaced by a very positive mood in the camp and Sousa said:

"It is always difficult after what happened. Of course, with a new manager, new ideas, different styles, it can cost us a little time but I think everyone is very enthusiastic, not just the players but the staff and the fans because they want the club to be in the Premier League where they belong."

Sousa has only made one addition to squad since taking over, but believes he has plenty of quality in the squad he inherited from former boss Nigel Pearson.

"We have a good quality and a good standard. We have some departments we want to improve and something which is going to happen in the next weeks. We have a long way to go, we know the Championship is very tough for everyone. This season it will be more balanced than the last season. For that we need to be prepared the best we can and to finish better than last season.

"It is a long way to go, a lot of teams in the division and we can see a lot of clubs very close together from the beginning to the end.

You lose two games you are down, win two and you are up and the balancer for a club like us needs to be very high with a great standard, to start well and keep that standard going to the end."