Jamal Lewis is the latest Canaries youngster to put himself in the frame for a place in Daniel Farke’s first team.

The 19-year-old is back on the field after a four-month injury absence and his target is clear – Championship football.

Lewis was a big hit in pre-season but his immediate hopes were shattered when he picked up a knee injury in training which ruled him out of the early part of the campaign.

But the teenage left-back finally returned on Monday night when he played an hour for the City Under-23s during their 1-0 win against Bury at Gigg Lane.

“It was wicked,” Lewis told the club’s official website. “It’s been four months in the waiting.

“Any footballer just wants to get back out there. It’s been a long journey, full of ups-and-downs but I’m just delighted to get back out there. I was really enjoying my football just before the season started. I was playing well with the first team and waiting for my opportunity.

“The past four months out have made me more hungry and I just want to get back in there and show everyone what I can do.”

Lewis almost came out of nowhere during pre-season – having been an Under-23s regular last year he impressed Farke and his coaching staff.

In the summer he signed a new contract until 2021 and now hopes he can return to his summer form – and force himself into Farke’s thinking.

“My game has evolved a lot over the last 12 months and I was just really confident that I could impact the game at that level,” he added. “I felt fresh over the 60 minutes for the U23s [against Bury] and I’m eager to push on now.

“I’m in the training group with the first team so it’s down to the manager to see what he wants me to do next. If he feels I’m ready then I’ll step up and take my chance.”

The win at Bury came courtesy of a second-half goal from 18-year-old Tristan Abrahams, another teenager catching the eye – although Farke admits the step up to the Championship is a big one for young hopefuls.

He said: “A guy like Tristan is not far away. I watched the last development game against Aston Villa and he scored. But it is a big difference from playing in the under-23s and being a striker at Championship level.”