[AMERICANS ABROAD] Zak Whitbread was in the starting lineup for the third straight game for promoted EPL club Norwich City in its 2-2 tie at Wolves. The Canaries are unbeaten with five points in three games since the return of Whitbread, who was sidelined for all of September-November with a hamstring strain.

Regaining the spot in the lineup of a promoted club isn't easy. But injuries to defenders Elliott Ward, Daniel Ayala and Ritchie de Laet paved the way for the return of Whitbread, who was born in Houston and spent most of his youth in Liverpool with a stop in Singapore, where his father, Barry, coached.

Whitbread never played a first-team league game in four seasons at Liverpool, but after five years at Millwall helped Norwich City win promotion.

"You've got a lot of time to think when you're injured," he told BBC Radio Norfolk. "I've been lucky enough to have a second crack at the Premier League."