Alex Neil insists he is not going to let Norwich City's young guns out of his sight for the Championship promotion push.

Jacob Murphy's stunning goal on his Canaries' league debut in the 4-1 rout of Blackburn underlined City's highly-rated talent can step up to the mark this season.

Neil is adamant he has no plans to allow the Murphys or James Maddison out on loan with City looking to plot an instant top flight return.

'The Murphys and Maddison will not be going out on loan. They are part of the squad and they give me different options,' he said. 'we have brought in a player like Alex (Pritchard) who likes to tuck in from the flank whereas the Murphys give us that width and that is a different attacking tool. They will play their part with injuries, suspensions and even a loss of form to others at times this season. The one thing we wanted to do was have that spine which was experienced and has been there and done it and seen it before but also add some good young quality into that group.

'Players like the Murphys and Canos and Maddison are still young and to rely on them to get us promotion is a heavy burden on four young lads. They will play their part but what I have to make sure is the strength in depth behind that is enough to rely on and with Wes (Hoolahan) and (Steven) Naismith and (Alex) Pritchard it gives us a good blend.'

Neil is still on the look-out to bolster his squad in the closing weeks of the transfer window as he targets new strikers, and the Scot is prepared to consider the loan route as one possible option.

'It is not something I would rule out but loan signings isn't my preference,' he said. 'I would much rather have them in the building so they are my players but sometimes in the right circumstances that is the way around really high transfer fees and wages. Loans come with a fraction of the cost and sometimes it is needs must.'