Declan Rudd is sponsored by:

Mervyn Lambert Plant Ltd Tel: 01953 688211 www.mervynlambert.co.uk

THE young goalkeeper from Diss joined the Club's Academy aged 9 and was named as a substitute for the final game of the 2007-08 season at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday. Rudd signed a new three-year contract with the Canaries in July 2009 having originally turned professional in the summer of 2008.

He made his senior debut as a substitute for Luke Daley following the sending off of on-loan goalkeeper Fraser Forster against Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium on September 26, 2009. He made several good saves to keep City in the match, helping the Canaries earn a draw thanks to Darel Russell's injury-time header.

Three days later Declan made his full City debut at home to Leyton Orient, keeping a clean sheet in the 4-0 win.

Declan also made an appearance as the Canaries earned back to back promotions to the Barclays Premier League, deputising for goalkeeper John Ruddy in City's 2-1 win over Barnsley in September 2010.

Declan was the first Norwich City player to play at the new Wembley stadium in April 2007, for England Under-16s against his Spanish counterparts, afterwards saying: "It is really unbelievable to play there for an England team. I just can't find the words to describe it properly. To be the first Norwich player to play there is such an honour and one that I will never forget. I used to watch Norwich every week when I was younger so I was very proud."

In 2009, Declan was a runner-up at the European Under-19 Championships for England, having lost to Ukraine in the Final. Previously, he has represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.

Rudd was originally spotted by City's youth recruitment officer Colin Watts playing for local side Bressingham as a striker, at the age of eight-year-old.