David Cuffley Norwich City are in pole position to retain goalkeeper Fraser Forster on loan next season - according to reports in the North East. Newcastle United number two 'keeper Tim Krul is understood to have been given the nod to challenge first choice Steve Harper for first team duty in the Premier League, leaving the way clear for 22-year-old Forster to gain more experience elsewhere.

David Cuffley

Norwich City are in pole position to retain goalkeeper Fraser Forster on loan next season - according to reports in the North East.

Newcastle United number two 'keeper Tim Krul is understood to have been given the nod to challenge first choice Steve Harper for first team duty in the Premier League, leaving the way clear for 22-year-old Forster to gain more experience elsewhere.

The Hexham-born Forster made 42 appearances for the Canaries in all competitions and kept 18 clean sheets in League One as Paul Lambert's team swept to the title by a nine-point margin.

He was voted players' player of the season and finished second in the supporters' poll for the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy.

Reports in Newcastle claim City are likely to get the go-ahead to re-sign Forster for another season on loan at Carrow Road now that he would be playing at Championship level, despite strong interest from newly-promoted Leeds United and Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.

It would fill one of Lambert's key positions as he looks to strengthen his squad over the summer, with 19-year-old Declan Rudd and 17-year-old Jed Steer currently the only 'keepers on the books.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton enhanced Krul's claims as the main challenger to Harper by saying he would play him in the Carling Cup and FA Cup next season.

Krul, who is currently in Portugal with Holland Under-21s, said: “It's all about building up more experience, and next season it gets harder in the Premier League.

“But if I can get more games for Newcastle, that would be brilliant. At the end of the day I want to be a Newcastle player.”

Krul's contract is up at the end of next season but the Dutchman is keen to sign a new deal at St James' Park.