Norwich's baby faced striker Chris Martin is closing in on a first professional contract. Martin wants to pledge his immediate future to the Canaries after cementing his place in Peter Grant's first team plans with a Championship goal-scoring brace during the last seven days.

Norwich's baby faced striker Chris Martin is closing in on a first professional contract.

Martin wants to pledge his immediate future to the Canaries after cementing his place in Peter Grant's first team plans with a Championship goal-scoring brace during the last seven days.

The Beccles teenager has already held talks with club officials following a seamless transition from the academy ranks since his debut against Wolves in January.

“I want to play for Norwich City,” said the life long fan. “I haven't signed a professional contract yet but I'm hoping to get something sorted reasonably quickly because I see my future here. The circumstances have just not allowed it to happen because the most important thing for me at the minute is the football.

“Now I've got my chance in the first team I want to make the most of it, carry on working hard and the rewards will come - I'm not worried about the contract side or the money side of things.”

City boss Grant gave the 18-year-old a ringing endorsement after his opportunist strike grabbed Norwich a lifeline in the midweek comeback win at Luton.

“It wasn't just his goal, but his general play,” said Grant. “Football is all about enjoyment and at this moment in time he is enjoying himself. He deserves to be in the side - it doesn't matter who comes back in fitness-wise, Chris deserves to be in the side on merit.”

The mature youngster is poised to lead the line in tomorrow's Championship trip to relegation-threatened Barnsley - a fourth consecutive start in his embryonic senior career.

“Barnsley picked up a good result against Stoke so we expect nothing less than a tough one,” he said. “I've not really had a chance to see any of their games but I feel every match I go into I'm capable of scoring goals. If you don't think that you shouldn't be on the pitch.

“You need to be confident in you own ability and I think that confidence shows in my game. It's obviously a lot quicker, a lot more physical than youth football but I'm coping well and I feel fresh. You just have to be switched on all the time, try and find the spaces and capitalise when you get in good positions.”

Martin's versatility is also an attractive commodity within Grant's threadbare squad.

“Hopefully it gives me a chance to start more games,” said the 18-year-old. “I enjoy playing up top as an out-and-out striker but dropping off means you're always in the action as well. Obviously someone like Chris Brown is a different player to Darren Huckerby but I think I've managed to get a decent understanding going. Scoring goals is what my game is all about although I also enjoy running at defenders.”