Manchester United defender Richie De Laet aims to impress on year-long loan at Norwich City

Ritchie De Laet , Manchester United(Getty Images)

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Norwich City new boy Richie De Laet hopes he can make an impression on Manchester United coaches during his year-long loan at the club.

The 22-year-old defender will arrive at the newly-promoted side hopeful he can prove his Premier League pedigree.

After loan spells at Portsmouth, Preston and Sheffield United in the past year, the Belgian international hopes to continue his progression by becoming a first-team regular at Carrow Road.

De Laet told skysports.com: “I sat down with the coaches at United and they had been keeping tabs on me whilst I was away with Portsmouth.

“They asked me how I felt the experience had gone for me down there and I believe that it was exactly what I needed at this stage of my career.

“Regular football at first-team level is invaluable and although it might not have been the best thing for me personally to play for three different clubs in one season, it worked out really well in the end.

“If I can gain some experience and play as many games as I can in the Premier League this season then I can go back there and give it a good go at getting in the first-team there.

“If all goes well for me here then it will be up to me to prove to the boss during pre-season that I am good enough to wear the shirt, but for now I just need to concentrate on doing well for Norwich.

“I’ve still got another year left on my contract after this season, so I’ve got until the summer of 2013 to prove myself at United.

“It is all in my own hands really because if I do well for Norwich this season it might trigger a new contract for me back at United, but if not I will still have the last year of my contract to show what I’m capable of there.”

De Laet arrived at Old Trafford from Stoke City in January 2009, making six apperances for the Manchester giants so far.