NEEDINGWORTH footballer Josh Dawkin has signed a one-year contract with Championship team Norwich City.

NEEDINGWORTH footballer Josh Dawkin has signed a one-year contract with Championship team Norwich City.

Dawkin, a Welsh youth international at U17 and U19 level has been with the Norwich City Academy at Carrow Road for two years, and put pen to paper on a professional deal last week.

The striker made the step up from the reserves last season, when he made his debut in the Canaries’ win over Gillingham in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. A full appearance followed in the next round when City won a penalty shoot out at Swindon.

The 18-year-old former St Ivo school pupil has 25 reserve team appearances under his belt and has scored six goals.

He told the Norwich City website: “I’m absolutely delighted and really looking forward to starting my first season as a professional. I’ll be aiming as high as possible and be looking to get around the first team squad.

“It was a brilliant feeling to get my first taste of being in the first team and hopefully I can keep that going with some more appearances this season.”

? Norwich City snapped up another of Huntingdonshire’s top footballing exports on Monday when they signed John Ruddy from Everton. Twenty-three-year-old goalkeeper Ruddy, originally from St Ives, has signed a three-deal at Carrow Road.