David Cuffley Robert Green is delighted to see two more international goalkeepers coming off the Norwich City production line at Colney - and has urged them to get as much first team football as they can.

David Cuffley

Robert Green is delighted to see two more international goalkeepers coming off the Norwich City production line at Colney - and has urged them to get as much first team football as they can.

Declan Rudd made eight senior appearances for the Canaries last season and has just helped England Under-19s qualify for the European Championships, while Jed Steer has represented England at under-17 level and was on the bench for 12 of City's first team games.

The two Norfolk-born lads are the latest in a line of young City 'keepers to play for England - Andy Marshall, Green and Joe Lewis all represented their country at different levels - and Green, whose World Cup call-up was confirmed on Tuesday, believes the two local lads can go from strength to strength if they are tested further in League football next season.

“I've spoken to numerous people in the Norwich set-up and with England and there has been nothing but positives said about them,” said Green.

“I've read that they will possibly be sent out on loan to learn their trade next season and it's probably the best thing they could do.

“It's all well and good training and playing in reserve games, but it's not like playing in men's football and competitive football and it's something they could do a lot worse than do.

“I'm sure there wouldn't be the fuss being made about them if they hadn't got the talent they have. But going and playing games is a different matter when people's jobs, people's livelihoods and people's hopes are resting on your shoulders. That's where you really earn your crust.”

Green also believes 22-year-old Fraser Forster would benefit from another season on loan at Carrow Road after helping them lift the League One title.

He said: “I came up for a friend's birthday at the end of the season and saw Fraser and one thing I know is he's a big lad. 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 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.”

Green's Premier League duties with West Ham have limited his opportunities to see the Canaries but, after four years away from Carrow Road, he still watches their progress and is relieved to see them back in the Championship.

He said: “It's been a tremendous turnaround for the club, something that was desperately needed. It's a wonderful club to be hanging around in League One, thankfully only for a season, so getting back up into the Championship I'm sure they are looking to make an impression next season by battling up towards the top end of the league again, as opposed to where they were in the last couple of years, struggling against relegation.

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

“It was a large part of my life to be there and put a lot of work in there - it was a real good time to come up and play football in the area.

“As a place to grow up as a person and learn your football it was a tremendous experience.”