Tony Springett has no intention of returning to youth football after enjoying the experience of playing on loan at Derby County. 

The winger was exposed to first-team football at Norwich City at the end of last season where he made five appearances in the Premier League, including a start away at Leicester City in their 3-0 defeat. 

Injury derailed his pre-season progress and left him out of Dean Smith's plans - come January, Springett pushed hard for a loan move in order to continue his development away from Carrow Road. 

Much like his on-pitch personality, Springett is determined to challenge himself - hence why he decided promotion-chasing Derby was the best destination for him when many players would have headed down a different and more gentle route. 

"When you get a taste for it you don't really want to go back to playing closed games (for the U21s). I could have taken a lower team in League Two but when I spoke to the gaffer (Paul Warne) here he was honest with me," Springett told the Pink Un.

"He told me that we're fighting for promotion here and that it was going to be hard to get into the starting line-up but if you want to take on that challenge then it's up to you.

"I work hard so I saw the challenge and thought 'why not go for it?'. Why not take the harder option rather than the easier option? Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't but I've been playing here and I'm happy."

Springett is hoping to return to Norwich in the summer with 20 League One appearances under his belt that will help him develop a pathway into City's first-team picture under David Wagner. 

The Pink Un: Tony Springett featured in the Premier League for Norwich City last season.Tony Springett featured in the Premier League for Norwich City last season. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

The 20-year-old is willing to fight to place but isn't keen on a return to development football anytime soon. 

“I’m putting myself in a situation where I want to go back to Norwich in a good position," he said. "I’m not the type of person that will just move aside for someone.

"I love Norwich and the players and staff, but if I don’t have a clear path to getting on the bench or starting by the start of next season, then I’m going want to go back out on loan or whatever the future holds.

"I’m not really thinking about that now, it’s something for me to think about in my off time. Right now I’m focusing on getting promoted with the club here, and I’m loving every second of it.”