Cranie linked with Norwich City

Coventry City defender Martin Cranie has been linked with a possible move to Norwich City - in the footsteps of former team-mate Elliott Ward. Reports suggest the 23-year-old Cranie could be a target if manager Paul Lambert decides to add a third new defender to his squad following the summer departures of Gary Doherty, Michael Spillane and David Stephens.

Coventry City defender Martin Cranie has been linked with a possible move to Norwich City - in the footsteps of former team-mate Elliott Ward.

Reports suggest the 23-year-old Cranie could be a target if manager Paul Lambert decides to add a third new defender to his squad following the summer departures of Gary Doherty, Michael Spillane and David Stephens.

The former England Under-21 international can play at right-back or centre-back, but played nearly an hour in midfield in Coventry's 0-0 draw in a pre-season game at Hinckley United on Saturday, after playing half an hour in a friendly at Nuneaton last Wednesday.

Yeovil-born Cranie began his career in the same Southampton Academy side as Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale before joining Portsmouth in the summer of 2007.

He moved to Coventry last August and made 42 senior appearances in all competitions for the Sky Blues last season, scoring once. He has also had loan spells at five different clubs. Lambert has already snapped up one defender from the Ricoh Arena when 25-year-old Ward became the second of his seven summer signings, arriving on a free transfer in May and signing a two-year deal with the Canaries.

Lambert's other defensive capture was left-back Steven Smith, from Rangers.