Norwich City teenage strike sensation Chris Martin has ended weeks of speculation by signing a three-and-a-half year contract with the Canaries. The 18-year-old put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract, capping a whirlwind few months in which he has scored five times for the Canaries since breaking into the first team.

Norwich City teenage strike sensation Chris Martin has ended weeks of speculation by signing a three-and-a-half year contract with the Canaries.

The 18-year-old finally put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract today, capping a whirlwind few months for the Beccles youngster in which he has scored five times for the Canaries since breaking into the first team in January.

Martin, who has been at the club's academy since the age of 10, admitted he is glad to put the weeks of speculation behind him.

“It's obviously a relief,” he said. “It's been going on for a few weeks now so it's good to get it out of the way and concentrate on my football now.

“It's happened very quickly from the end of January until now and I'm very pleased to get my first contract sorted.”

Manchester United were reportedly monitoring the youngster's form after reports that talks between Martin and the club had come to a standstill.

Manager Peter Grant last week hit out at the PFA, who handled Martin's contract negotiations, for not wanting to know the player before he burst onto the scene at Carrow Road.

But the differences between the two parties have now been ironed out with Martin agreeing a deal that will keep him at the club until 2010.

Martin said that it was the faith shown in him by manager Peter Grant that convinced him to stay at Carrow Road.

“I'm happy the manager has shown a lot in me, but it's only the start of things,” he said. “I need to carry on working hard to remain in the team and keep playing.”

Grant was delighted Martin has committed his future to Norwich and paid tribute to the work done by the club's academy system in producing such a precocious talent.

“Obviously we're delighted for everybody at the club and especially the academy that we've agreed a deal with Chris.

“It's fantastic to see an academy product - and a local boy at that - make it through the ranks into the first team and it's a testament to all the hard work the coaches in the academy have put in with Chris over the years.

“The club have worked hard on making this happen and offered Chris an excellent deal, and he has got his just rewards for all his hard work and commitment.”

Grant insisted that this was only the start for Martin and threw down the gauntlet to the teenager to show he deserves a permanent place in his first team.

“The challenge for him now is to stay focused and to continue work on staying in the first team and developing his game. He knows the hard work for him starts right now.

“He's a great lad and he fully deserves this chance. What I've said to him is 'well done - now work on earning yourself that next contract' and that's the way it should be for him.”