Declan Rudd is up for the fight of forcing his way into the Norwich City first team.

The boyhood Canary knows John Ruddy and Mark Bunn are blocking his path but the 23-year-old aims to give City chief Neil Adams a selection headache.

'I've had a chat with the gaffer and I know I have two really good goalkeepers in front of me,' he said. 'Mark Bunn has proved himself, John Ruddy is an England international who is a Premier League goalkeeper, so for me to fight my way past them is a challenge but that is what I love. I love coming to work every day and knowing I have to work hard to push past people.

'That is what I will look to do. I'm looking forward to the season. It can't come quickly enough. Everyone wants to play football but Norwich holds a special place for me and I want to play here. The manager makes that choice and I have two goalkeepers who I need to work hard to catch up with.'

Rudd insists City will reap the benefit of his successful season-long loan stint at Preston where he played 55 games in the Lilywhites' charge to the League One play-offs.

'I've improved massively,' he said. 'The pressure of playing for other people's jobs in the football club was new and the fan base up there is very similar to here. They expect the same performances and winning every game, which is how it should be. I learned so much and I wouldn't change any of it.

'I was very pleased how it went on a personal note. I wasn't expecting to get 50-plus games in one season. I played pretty much every cup and league game. It was just a shame we couldn't nick promotion because that would have topped it off.

'I loved every minute there, it was great getting games, but I also love coming home. This is the club where I want to be at.'