Roeder challenges young Canaries

Striker Martin has been out of the first-team picture (Getty)

Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder believes the club's young players have had too much of an easy life.

He told BBC Radio Norfolk he wants them to work harder and believes they do not appreciate what it takes to make it at the top level.

"I don't think they've ever been made to understand how hard professional football is," said Roeder.

"An example would be Chris Martin and Michael Spillane. It's important I change their thinking."

Martin burst onto the scene last season as an 18-year-old, scoring five goals in his first nine games for the club.

But he has not scored since and has struggled to get into the squad this season, playing just two league games since Roeder became manager in October.

They really have got to knuckle down for the rest of the season Glenn Roeder

Spillane, who is an Irish youth international, has also seen his first-team opportunities limited this season.

"I've not given up on them because I see they have ability but they really have got to knuckle down for the rest of the season and when they come back for pre-season," added Roeder.

The Canaries manager is set to add another youngster to his squad after offering 18-year-old forward Luke Daley his first professional contract.

Daley was named on the substitutes bench for the 1-0 defeat by Stoke on Tuesday night.