Chris Lakey Paul Lambert has completed the first sale of the summer after agreeing a fee with Brentford for defender Michael Spillane. The 21-year-old Academy product signed a two-year contract, for an undisclosed fee after he was given permission to talk terms with the League One side's boss Andy Scott.

Chris Lakey

Paul Lambert has completed the first sale of the summer after agreeing a fee with Brentford for defender Michael Spillane.

The 21-year-old Academy product signed a two-year contract, for an undisclosed fee after he was given permission to talk terms with the League One side's boss Andy Scott.

Spillane, who made his City debut in January 2006, spent a year on loan at Luton along with Chris Martin before returning to Carrow Road a year ago. He started seven of Lambert's first 10 league and cup matches but suffered a torn hamstring in the 5-1 home over Bristol Rovers at the beginning of October and was never able to re-establish himself.

More are expected to follow Spillane out - Lambert has fielded calls for some of his younger players, but the numbers of midfielders on the books suggests he may be receptive to inquiries in that department.

“I can't say people are going to stay at the club or anything like that,” he said. “Yes, we've brought a few in to give some lads a hand. Some might knock on my door and might not see their future here. There have been one or two inquiries for the younger ones. It is up to me whether I want to let them out on loan and I will decide what's best for the kids and what's best for Norwich.”

Departures will certainly balance the books, with Newcastle keeper Fraser Forster and Gillingham striker Simeon Jackson, with whom City have been strongly linked, seemingly the final two pieces of Lambert's summer jigsaw. However, Lambert - who says the club will do “everything we can to try and get a couple in” -refused to join the debate over Jackson.

“If it's in the media it must be true,” he said. “I can be linked with anybody and whether you get it right or not you have to wait and see, but I know of him - but there are also other players out there I know. I don't have a deadline, but I will try and get the rest of the lads in before we do go and hopefully that will happen.”

Lambert has added three new midfielders, but has lost Darel Russell, who became a free agent yesterday when his contract expired.

“I have spoken to Rusty and I said before he has been terrific for me, but when you're a Bosman you hold the ace card and that's the same for every out of contract player,” he said.

Lambert had a full complement of players in for the first day of training, but was one short on the coaching side with Ian Crook back in Australia. There are no plans bring in a replacement, while Laurence Batty has yet to be confirmed as the permanent goalkeeping coach.

“The lads have come back in pretty good shape and the spirits are the same as they were last season and hopefully pre-season will go well,” said Lambert. “They came back in good shape. It's important they get fit and it's important they stay fit up until that Watford game.”