Chris Lakey Ex-Canaries keeper Robert Green has done his bit to try and persuade Fraser Forster that another season on loan at Norwich City would be a step forward. Green knows all about the 'Colney Effect', having learned his trade at the Canaries' training facility on the outskirts of the city, and says it's the perfect place for Forster.

Chris Lakey

Ex-Canaries keeper Robert Green has done his bit to try and persuade Fraser Forster that another season on loan at Norwich City would be a step forward.

The Newcastle stopper is top of Paul Lambert's summer shopping list after his brilliant performances during City's title-winning League One campaign.

Green knows all about the 'Colney Effect', having learned his trade at the Canaries' training facility on the outskirts of the city, and says it's the perfect place for Forster.

“I came up for a friend's birthday at the end of the season and saw him,” said Green. “He's a good lad. I spoke to him briefly and said one of the main things you can do as a young keeper is play games.

“He would probably go back to Newcastle and be second or third choice in the Premier League, which isn't going to be nearly as good as learning your trade in the Championship, which is what I did here as a youngster probably around a similar age to what he is now.

“He had a tremendous season and won Norwich a lot of points by all accounts and I think he won numerous awards at the end of the season, so that speaks volumes for him. He could do a lot worse than come back and carry on plying his trade here - as a youngster there is nothing like playing games in terms of learning the game and each step you can take up the better.

“For him that would be a tremendous step forward to do it somewhere he knows everyone and he's had a year to get settled in and really learn what it's about as a club as well as in the football sense. He could do a lot worse.”

Forster spent the final three months of the season working under goalkeeping coach Laurence Batty, the man Green has always regarded as a boyhood hero from his days watching him play for Woking.

“It's strange how things come around,” said Green yesterday. “It was a long time ago when I was watching him play for Woking. I'm sure he's doing a great job. He's a good character to have around.”

It's almost four years ago since Green left City for West Ham, but he still has fond memories of the place.

“It was a large part of my life to be there,” he said. “I put a lot of work in there - it was a real good time to come up and play football in the area. I was starting off in a similar position to where they are now, to being in the Premier League and unfortunately going back down again. But as a learning curve, a place to grow up as a person and learn your football, it was a tremendous experience.

“I still have a lot of friends who are Norwich fans who still follow it a lot more keenly than I do.

“The last time I went to see them was away to Brentford earlier this season and that wasn't such a great occasion, just after Gunny (Bryan Gunn) getting the sack. It's a wonderful club - hanging around in League One - thankfully it was only for a season.

“I'm sure they are looking to make an impression next season.

“But I think more than anything getting back on some financial footing would be key and something I am sure they are working towards and something that promotion was pretty vital towards as well.”