New Norwich City goalkeeper David Marshall today vowed to beat best pal Craig Beattie in the race for promotion to the Premiership next season.Beattie completed a £1.

New Norwich City goalkeeper David Marshall today vowed to beat best pal Craig Beattie in the race for promotion to the Premiership next season.

Beattie completed a £1.75m move to Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion last week but Marshall is determined to get one over his friend by winning promotion ahead of the Baggies and has already turned his thoughts to facing the Scotland international in October.

“Craig texted me just the other day and I'm delighted he's earned a really good move to a big club like West Brom,” said Marshall. “He is my closest mate from our time coming through the ranks at. I'm sure he'll prove to be a great signing for Tony Mowbray.

“In saying that, we have aspirations to get back into the Premiership so that's what we'll be focusing on once the action starts.

“I've been looking at the fixture list for next season and we've got West Brom at the end of October. I can't wait to get started and play regular first-team football again.”

Marshall will fancy his chances even more of finishing above Albion upon the news that two of their key players have just left the Hawthorns. Jason Koumas has completed a £5.3m move to Wigan while Senegalese international Diomancy Kamara signed for Fulham in a £6m deal.

Meanwhile, Marshall revealed his excitement at playing for the Canaries next season and the 22-year-old is desperate to make up for lost time after an ankle injury cut his loan spell with Norwich short last season.

The twice-capped Scotland international did enough in those five games to show he is the long-term replacement for Robert Green and Marshall wants to repay the faith that City boss Peter Grant has shown in him.

“I really enjoyed it down here the first time and that's why I had no hesitation to come back. Norwich have massive potential as proved by their home crowds which are normally around 25,000.

“Everything is geared towards getting back into the big time and I've got a really good vibe. When you're working with someone like Peter it makes you want to do well. He is someone I've always admired even from his days at Celtic.

“He's shown his ambition for the club with the signings he's made this summer and, from just talking to him, you know he really does mean business.

“It's up to the players to match his ambitions, which is what we're aiming to do. This is a brand new challenge for me and one that I am looking forward to.”