CHRIS LAKEY Robert Eagle has been praised for his professionalism by Canaries boss Peter Grant. The 20-year-old has agreed a contract that ties him to Carrow Road until next summer.

CHRIS LAKEY

Robert Eagle has been praised for his professionalism by Canaries boss Peter Grant.

The 20-year-old has agreed a contract that ties him to Carrow Road until next summer - a decision that was somewhat overshadowed by striker Chris Martin's decision to commit himself to his professional deal this week.

However, Grant has refused to allow the week to pass without passing his opinion on a player he believes has a better delivery from the left flank than Canaries legend Darren Eadie.

“He has a better delivery than Darren - he is not as quick as Darren,” said Grant. “I think you saw in the Leicester game he put a great cross in. His delivery from set plays is very good, he has good balance to his left side.

“He played in the reserve game the other night at left back and had time on the ball and his delivery was excellent at certain periods. He has a mix on him, some of his passes, very difficult passes - he put a couple of wonderful passes down the line there over the full back's heads.

“So he has got a little bit of a mixture to his game and I think once he grows into his position it will make him aware of it. On his performances and what he has done since I came here he deserves his contract and now we hope he goes on with his Norwich career.”

Grant believes the Leiston-born Eagle has been unlucky to find himself behind Darren Huckerby and Simon Lappin in the pecking order.

“When he has not been on the bench it is because it is not the balance I want on the bench and also when he has not played it's because the two boys in front of him have been playing well, Huckerby and Lappin,” said Grant.

“He has been in every squad I have named since I came here. I saw his first reserve game and saw a natural left-sider. I think apart from one game he didn't play particularly well, but every other game he has had an effect in so I have been pleased with him.

“I have watched him in reserve games and he has been excellent, his attitude to training, even when he travels in the 18 and has not been selected in the 16, he goes round the players like an old pro, wishing them all the best and he is always a bright kid about and all these wee things are massive as a footballer.

“But his attitude every single day is fantastic, 100pc and he deserves his contract and I just hope he goes on and has a career here. If he doesn't, as a left-sided player with the ability he has I am sure he will make a career somewhere, even if it is not here.”