Academy scholar Danny Kelly has signed his first professional contract with Norwich City. The Irish under-19 captain will finalise his one-year deal with a one-year option on July 1.

Academy scholar Danny Kelly has signed his first professional contract with Norwich City.

The Irish under-19 captain will finalise his one-year deal with a one-year option on July 1.

The 18-year-old has played 28 times this season in all competitions for the successful Academy under-18 side, scoring seven times, including a hat-trick in their 5-1 victory over Charlton back in November. He can play either at centre-back or up front and joined the Canaries at under-16 level having been spotted in a trials game for Histon.

Speaking to the club's official website, the Huntingdon born player said: "We had a great run in the FA Youth Cup and I went away with Ireland in the summer, and we qualified for the elite phase earlier on in the year. Hopefully I can now push on and get involved with the first team squad.

"I like playing anywhere where I can do my best, this year I feel I've done well at centre-forward. That's what pushed me to get my pro contract this year, so I think that's where I'll go. I've been compared to Chris Sutton with the way that I play by a few of the coaching staff."

City boss Bryan Gunn added: "Danny has performed very well in the Academy this season - obviously we've not had too many reserve fixtures during the year for him to have an opportunity in. We hope that he'll push on in the reserves next year and contend to be a member of the first team squad as well. He's got the physical attributes you need in this modern game, he's got a good touch - we just need to work on polishing him up and making him the finished product.

"He does liken to a young Chris Sutton with the versatility he's got, which won't do him any harm. We do want him to concentrate on being a striker first and foremost, but obviously in the modern game who knows - he might have to end up playing as centre-half in emergencies. When we bring him back into pre-season training, we hope he'll be concentrating on being a striker."

Kelly has been called up for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 training camp this summer, prior to the qualifying of the Elite Phase of the European U19 Championships, which starts in June.