City winger Lee Croft says he wants his new contract sorted out as quickly as possible so that he can concentrate on helping keep them in the Championship. Negotiations have been opened with the 23-year-old winger, who is out of contract in the summer, and a new deal is on the table.

City winger Lee Croft says he wants his new contract sorted out as quickly as possible so that he can concentrate on helping keep them in the Championship.

Negotiations have been opened with the 23-year-old winger, who is out of contract in the summer, and a new deal is on the table.

City turned down a number of offers during the January transfer window, with Sheffield United said to be at the head of a queue which reportedly includes Nottingham Forest and Premier League relegation battlers Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion. Both parties have made it clear they want each other - the problem appears to be reaching middle ground.

As far as Croft is concerned, it's all about the football.

“All I'm going to say is that I'm enjoying my football and hopefully things on that side will sort themselves out,” he said.

“It would be nice for it to be done quickly - everyone knows then what's happening.

“Everyone knows I want to stay, but if it's resolved quickly rather than drawn out it would be better for everyone.

“We'll see how it goes - I'll just concentrate on my football and let that do the talking.”

Croft's desire to extend his City career beyond the three-year contract he signed when joining from Manchester City for �600,000 in the summer of 2006, was evident at the weekend with an all-action display in the 2-1 defeat by Bristol City.

“We lost, but I am really enjoying myself here at Norwich and I think you can see that,” he said.

City came unstuck after four matches unbeaten under new boss Bryan Gunn, although there was some consolation in their second-half display with 10 men after they trailed 2-1 at the interval - proof, says Croft, that there is enough in the dressing room to avoid the disaster that would be relegation.

“We've got that defeat out of the way, although we wouldn't have wanted it, but it's a learning curve,” said Croft, who has scored five times this season, including a scorcher against Ipswich Town. “I'm sure we will bounce back.”