It's not often the unveiling of two new Norwich City signings, proves to be the sideshow to a main event – but as City fans have long boasted, there really is only one Grant Holt.

The arrival of Steven Whittaker and Jacob Butterfield shouldn't be dismissed – manager Chris Hughton has to build a team of his own for the Premier League battle ahead and they will be hugely influential parts of that, just like any other member of his squad.

But Holt has become a Norwich City icon: his goals helped lift the club from the depths of despair to the promised land, his captaincy skills extracted that mystery 10pc more than standard 100 from team-mates and his hustling, bustling, take-no-prisoners style, laced with a magnificent touch and eye for goals, put him in the frame for an international call just three years after he was plying his trade in League Two.

For the supporters, Grant Holt was within touching distance: a former tyre fitter from Cumbria who isn't afraid to express his love for a beer with his old mates or a night in with the family – and Carlisle United FC.

The bond between fan and man was quickly formed and, until soon after last season ended, showed no signs of weakness.

Then Holt did the unthinkable; he handed in a transfer request.

Unusually for City, and perhaps not at all to their liking, a difference of opinion between Holt and the club was initially played out in public.

What followed – radio silence – was even worse.

No one knew what was happening. Until yesterday, when the club announced that Holt had signed a new three-year deal.

The past few weeks have seen fans divided in their views of Holt, but yesterday's news will see many return to the fold.

There will be stragglers, people who disliked their club being in the spotlight for the wrong reasons and being the object of derision by fans of certain other clubs – notably West Ham and Aston Villa.

But more goals, more chest beating, more of Grant Holt as we know him – then the dirty washing of the past few weeks will be clean again.