Michael Bailey Norwich City manager Paul Lambert may well be hoping his opposite number at Newcastle United hands him a double favour this summer. With the much discussed future of Fraser Forster continuing to rumble on, Magpies boss Chris Hughton has yet to indicate whether he will sanction another spell for him at Carrow Road where the big stopper was hugely influential during the Canaries' charge to the League One title last season.

Michael Bailey

Norwich City manager Paul Lambert may well be hoping his opposite number at Newcastle United hands him a double favour this summer.

With the much discussed future of Fraser Forster continuing to rumble on, Magpies boss Chris Hughton has yet to indicate whether he will sanction another spell for him at Carrow Road where the big stopper was hugely influential during the Canaries' charge to the League One title last season.

But Lambert may be aiming to make it a two-for-one deal from St James' Park after Hughton admitted he would be willing to see promising striker Nile Ranger take a similar path to Forster's last season.

While only two sides plundered more goals than City last season, Lambert will be keen to bolster his strikeforce ahead of Norwich's return to the Championship.

Newcastle academy product Ranger, 19, has two goals in 30 appearances since making his debut at the start of last season, with 23 of those coming from the bench.

But while the player's agent believes a loan move next season is on the cards - something that reportedly raised the attention of a number of Championship clubs - the fact is, much like the situation with Forster, Hughton has yet to make up his mind.

"The decision has not 100 per cent been made," said Hughton. "With Fraser Forster last season, there was a train of thought that we would have been better off keeping him here because he's a quality, young goalkeeper.

"Amongst what we have here, we also have to think about player development, and young players come into that one. That's where we will be with Nile. We haven't categorically made a decision on whether we'll loan him out or not.

"If we feel we're very strong in that position, and there are the right possibilities to loan him out, that's something we'll consider.

"He could certainly stay here and play a part, as he did last season, but we also have to think about his development and whether he'll get the amount of football he needs.

"He's still only 19 years of age. His development is important for us. You can improve players by giving them opportunities here or, at some stage of the season, allowing them to have the amount of football they need elsewhere."

Raw and quick forward Ranger currently finds himself behind Shola Ameobi, Andy Carroll, Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best at United and his agent, Nick Rubery, admitted earlier this month he expects his man to be loaned out for next season.