Brad Hills is a player Norwich City believe in, which is why the Canaries aim to extend his Carrow Road stay.

The 20-year-old is set to be rewarded with a new deal as he prepares to enter the final 12 months on his current contract, plus a club option.

Johannes Hoff Thorup again reiterated at Colney on Thursday no decision has been taken on whether Hills stays in the squad this season, or goes back out on loan in the coming weeks, after his impressive stint at Accrington Stanley.

But the centre back has done enough to be offered new terms.

“It's ongoing conversations. Always that. That's how it is. We cannot only plan for the game on Saturday,” said the Dane. “I know it's how it's often perceived from outside, when the season is started, but we also have to look at the long term perspective and look at how the team will look like in January, when we start again, next summer, when we start again.

"And we have to plan that. And we have to be very careful on how we plan for the future.

“He’s a player we believe in. For a coach, or a manager, when the window is open and the season is started is not always what you prefer, because so many things are going on while you also have to perform in a league.

“On the positive side you can actually have a couple of games where you can see the squad, you can see the players before you take final decisions with them, and you can also have an idea of where the team is and how many players you actually need.

“Going forward, he's been performing well. What we have to make sure as a club is that we take the right decision for him, because definitely, he should be a part of this team, whether it's now or the future, we have to wait and see. But game minutes are important for him.”

Young striker Ken Aboh’s immediate future feels clearer, after the prolific development striker was not handed a squad number.

“(A loan) can be a possibility for him. At the moment there's some way for him to make it into the first team,” said Thorup. “It doesn't mean that there will be no chance for him.

"We have to wait and see, but we also have to plan the best possible pathway for him and whether there will be a loan or another option. I think we will get closer to that within the next one week or two.”