Kieran Richardson believes Fulham’s Boxing Day trip to Norwich is a game the Cottagers must win to boost their survival hopes.

Fulham have one win in 10 Premier League games following Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Manchester City and Richardson hopes to turn the momentum in the final two away matches before the year’s end, with a trip to Hull following the Canaries clash.

Rene Meulensteen’s men also play West Ham and Sunderland in a sequence of fixtures which appear, on paper at least, winnable for a Cottagers’ side which made City work hard for victory.

“The next four games are very, very important for us,” Richardson said.

“They’re all bottom half clubs, all winnable. We want to take each game at a time, but the next game against Norwich, we want to win that game. It’s a must-win for us.

“You’ve always got to beat the teams around about you. You try your best against the top, top teams, but the teams around you, they’re the times when you’re picking the points up.

“We’re playing free football, with confidence, attacking-wise. I think it’s only a matter of time before we get results.”

Richardson was drafted in to play on the left wing for his first appearance under Meulensteen and rewarded his former coach at Manchester United with a goal.

Like Adel Taarabt, who performed well in the loan striker’s role, Richardson has found chances limited this term, but now hopes to seize his opportunity.

He added: “Sitting on the sidelines, you don’t want to be sitting there, you just want to be out on the pitch playing.

“Sometimes when the manager does that, it gets the fire back in your belly. Maybe that’s happened to him (Taarabt) and me.”