STRIKER Chris Martin is back at Colney and ready to stake his claim for a place in City's squad next season.

With the curtain having fallen on Luton Town's League Two fixtures, the former Academy starlet has returned from his season-long loan with the Hatters and is now focussing on doing his bit to help the Canaries bounce back from relegation.

It has certainly been an eventful season for Martin and fellow Canary Michael Spillane who both spent 2008-09 on loan at Kenilworth Road. The Bedfordshire club were forced to start the season minus a whopping 30 points after the club was found guilty of misconduct for paying agents via a third party and also their failure to satisfy the Football League's insolvency rules.

Despite the handicap of that 30-point deduction which eventually led to Mick Harford's side being relegated from the Football League, the Hatters did enjoy a memorable afternoon in the sun when a crowd of over 55,000 saw the Hatters lift the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley in early April.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Luton," confirmed the 20-year-old.

"Obviously it has been tough, everyone knows about the points deduction and the situation. It was tough on the players in the dressing room, you tried to keep it to the back of your mind and not look at the table but everyone knew it was still there.

"We had a great spirit and I think we really showed that in the cup game at Wembley. We showed that day how good we can be and I think that game was a true representation of how well we could play and maybe how things could have gone if the shackles had been off without the points deduction."

The Hatters' 3-2 triumph at Wembley really was the highlight of challenging season and the memories of that wonderful afternoon at the home of English football are something that is clearly going to remain with Martin forever.

"It was a dream come true," he confirmed. "As corny as it sounds it was a boyhood dream come true. You watch England playing there, you see FA Cup finals on the television and I was lucky enough to play there and score there and to win which is the most important thing. It was an unbelievable experience and to play in front of that number of fans - I think there was 55,000 there and 40,000 of them were Luton fans. It was something special."

After a season of regular first team football at Luton where he has found the back of the net 13 times, Chris has clearly got the appetite for games and goals and is looking to prove his worth to Norwich City next season.

"I've played about 50-odd games at Luton and that can only make me a more experienced player and a better professional. The manager showed faith in me by playing me week-in, week-out and I feel I have certainly come back a better player. I'm now ready to knuckle down and do a job for Norwich City."

The Beccles-born striker was keen to praise the impact Hatters' boss Mick Harford has made on him during his time at Kenilworth Road. Harford was an impressive frontman in his playing days and has provided some useful tips and advice.

"He was certainly someone to look up to - he has played at the highest level and done the business as well. Whatever he says, you've got to listen to - he has certainly helped me to improve my game a lot."

With the Canaries slipping to League One, Martin feels his experience of life in the lower divisions will serve him well during 2009-10 and he certainly knows what to expect come the big kick-off on August 8.

"It will be much the same as I've experienced this season in League Two but with a little more quality. It is going to be tough - we all know that but if we go about it with the right attitude and the right desire I think we'll be all right."