Former Norwich academy product Chris Martin believes his permanent Derby move can provide a new lease of life to his football career.

Martin spent 14 years with the Canaries working his way through the ranks to the first team, but limited Premier League exposure and a series of loan moves have stunted his early progress.

The 24-year-old Beccles-bred striker was the first of Chris Hughton's senior released players to secure his future after completing a Pride Park switch following an impressive initial loan move for the Rams towards the end of last season.

Martin and his young family will now look to put down roots in the East Midlands after a nomadic existence that also included spells at Luton, Swindon and Crystal Palace.

'The last couple of years have not been ideal for me. I have had to move my young family around and that is never ideal to be in and out of hotels or apartments that you are never going to see again,' he said. 'Hopefully I can put those loan spells behind me now and kick on and really make a go of it. My girlfriend is pregnant with our second child and we already have a little two-year-old so I want to find a good base for them. Somewhere we are going to have a base that we can enjoy for the next couple of years.

'Of course I would have much preferred over these past two seasons to be contracted and playing regularly at Norwich. I lived 20 minutes down the road, but that was not the case. It didn't work out like that and I had to go out on loan to prove myself and I am thankful that all of that has led me to Derby.'

Martin, speaking to Derby's official site, admits his formative years at Norwich will always hold special memories.

'It is a new start and a new beginning for me here but I made a lot of friends and there are a lot of good people who helped me in my career,' he said. 'It's also a good set of lads. There is a tinge of disappointment leaving Norwich behind but I am very excited to be joining another massive club in Derby with a big fan base and the facilities are second to none. They are probably Premier League in that respect and I think I have been very lucky in that the two permanent clubs I have joined are like this.

'Coming here has reminded me of the sort of atmosphere and togetherness we had on the promotion runs.'