Spillane offered new Norwich deal

Wembley-bound Michael Spillane has been offered a new contract by the Canaries. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, on a season-long loan with League Two club Luton, is out of contract at Carrow Road in the summer.

Wembley-bound Michael Spillane has been offered a new contract by the Canaries.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, on a season-long loan with League Two club Luton, is out of contract at Carrow Road in the summer.

But manager Bryan Gunn today revealed that talks had begun with a view to extending the 19-year-old defender's stay with City.

Said Gunn: “We have made the offer of a new contract to Michael and he's currently thinking it over.

“I think it's important that someone who has come through our Academy structure has gained experience in a lower division and we hope there will be a reaction to that when he comes back to Colney - but that's a decision Michael will have to make for himself.

“We've made the offer now and we hope he is seriously considering it.”

Spillane and City striker Chris Martin, also on a season-long loan to the Hatters, were in the side that clinched a place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley on April 5 when they beat Brighton on penalties in the area final on Tuesday.

Martin, 20, has another season to run on his City contract.

The Canaries could have recalled Spillane and Martin from Luton in early January, but former boss Glenn Roeder decided not to exercise the option.

Gunn admitted today: “I would have taken them back if I'd been given the job a week earlier. There was a clause in the contract to say we could have called them back but unfortunately that didn't happen.

“But the good thing is they're playing football, we can watch them, the scouts have been out watching them and come back with good reports, Mick Harford's happy with them and they've got a trip to Wembley to look forward to as well, now.”