CHRIS WISE Norwich City keeper Paul Gallacher has got a future with the club if he wants it, manager Nigel Worthington revealed. The 26-year-old Scottish international is very much the man of the moment at Carrow Road, having come from nowhere to turn in two excellent performance for the Canaries.

CHRIS WISE

Norwich City keeper Paul Gallacher has got a future with the club if he wants it, manager Nigel Worthington revealed yesterday.

The 26-year-old Scottish international is very much the man of the moment at Carrow Road, having come from nowhere to turn in two excellent performance for the Canaries against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR.

But the fact remains that Gallacher will be out of contract during the summer, and having seen him take his big chance with both hands in City's previous two games Worthington is now keen to extend his stay in Norfolk.

With Robert Green still the undisputed Norwich No.1 Worthington knows it will be a tough decision for the player - but with nothing certain in football he is hoping the in-form keeper will take the plunge and sign on the dotted line.

“I would like to do a deal,” said the City boss.

“I have spoken to Paul briefly about the situation. He is speaking to his family and then we will take it from there, basically. Hopefully we can sort something out.

“He has really enjoyed it here. I think he has been very patient and to then come in and play as well as he has done is a great testament to him.

“He loves the county of Norfolk and the city of Norwich, the football club, the facilities, the people that he is working with.

“But obviously the situation regarding first team football has got to come into the equation as well. There is always a scenario - it's about sorting something out that suits everybody.”

In an ideal world Worthington would like to get the situation sorted out before the end of the season. With previous No. 2 Darren Ward leaving during the summer, the City manager wants the vacancy filled sooner rather than later and would be placed in a difficult situation if Gallacher opted to keep his options open - as he is fully entitled to do - until his deal expires at the end of June.

Going back to Scotland for guaranteed first team football - and the international recall that would possibly follow - might also be tempting for a man who had spent the best part of two years on the sidelines before being called up at the last minute to replace the injured Green last Saturday.

Basically, make your mind up time is fast approaching, with Gallacher - who didn't want to speak to the media yesterday - clearly facing a dilemma.

“It's a two-way thing,” said Worthington.

“I'm sure he would like to get things sorted out one way or another before he goes away on his holidays and relax knowing that he is under contract. From our point of view we would be looking at one less body to try and add to our group for next season. We'll be looking at it sooner rather than later.”

With Green still on the sidelines with the minor ankle injury he picked up at Hillsborough Gallacher will get another chance to impress at Cardiff tomorrow, with youngster Joe Lewis providing the back-up from the bench.

“Paul will be playing again because Robert won't be ready for the weekend,” said Worthington.

“He has tweaked a few fibres in his ankle and those sort of things just take time to clear up. We'll give him as much time as possible to make sure we get it right because it is an important time for in his personal career.

“The main thing is that we get him 100 pc fit and then move on from there.”