Teenager Kris Renton quits Norwich City for Musselburgh Athletic

KRIS RENTON, who holds the record of being the youngest Norwich City player to get a game in the first team, has joined home-town club Musselburgh Athletic in a bid to kick-start his career back in Scotland.

The 19-year-old striker, who had his contract at Carrow Road cancelled by mutual consent at the start of the year, made his debut for David McGlynn's side against Kelty Hearts in the East Region Super League last weekend.

Renton, who had a spell on loan at Brechin earlier in the season, has joined his brother, Kieron, the Musselburgh goalkeeper, at Olivebank and is hoping he can catch the eye of managers in the SFL.

"I believe Kris had an option to extend his contract at Norwich for another two years but he was homesick and wants to play his football up here," said McGlynn.

"We're delighted to get him on board and, by getting him some games under his belt, hopefully we'll be able to get him back to a higher level."

Renton, who was 16 when he made his Norwich debut in a victory over Leicester City in April 2007, will make his first Olivebank appearance for McGlynn in tomorrow's Super League clash with Newtongrange Star (1.45pm).

Last season these two teams battled it out for the Premier Division title, with Musselburgh coming out on top as they both secured promotion to the top flight. So far Newtongrange have fared slightly better in the Super League, Graeme Armstrong's side sitting second behind Bo'ness, eight points ahead of Musselburgh, who, admittedly, have two games in hand.

"I think a lot of teams under-estimated the two sides that came up last season," said McGlynn. "We've done okay so far while Newtongrange are doing really well, having strengthened their squad in the summer with the addition of Grant McNicoll and Ubong Umatong.

"We've not had great success against Newtongrange of late and we will need to be in their faces if we want to bounce back from last weekend's defeat at Kelty.

"While Kelty are in a false position in the league, we were disappointed to lose, having forced seven corners before they scored with their first attack of the game after 30 minutes."

Adam Nelson is available again after suspension while Dod Fraser and Graeme Beveridge should also be in contention but Scott Devlin misses out through injury.

Newtongrange boss Armstrong, who watched his side maintain their impressive run of results by coming through a tricky test away to Larkhall in the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup last weekend, is delighted to have secured the signing of defender David White, who had been on loan from Brechin.

"David suffered a bad injury last season and hopefully we can help him get back to full fitness and eventually find himself playing senior football again as he is definitely good enough to do that," said Armstrong, who will see his squad tested to the full this weekend.

Damien Gielty, who missed out against Larkhall through suspension, is unavailable due to work commitments, as is Tom Britton. Scott Swaney is out injured while there are also doubts over Sean Woodburn and Stuart Roseburgh. "While we have maybe done a bit better than Musselburgh in the Super League, there is still a long way to go and the one thing we can expect this weekend is a tough game," said Armstrong. "Musselburgh have good players and, as has been the case in games between the two teams recently, I don't think there will be much between us."

In other Super League games tomorrow, Bo'ness, who are seven points clear at the top of the table, entertain Kelty, Linlithgow are at home to Camelon and Whitburn welcome Lochee.

"I know Stevie Leighton (the Kelty manager] well and you know it is going to be a cup final against his team," said Bo'ness boss Alan McGonigal. "He'll be trying to get us wound up, that's his style. I was delighted that we hit the ground running last week (after a long break due to the bad weather] and we just have to try and continue."

Linlithgow manager Dave Baikie is hoping his side can kick on strongly from last week's excellent 4-0 win over Cumnock in the Junior Cup, a game that saw Tommy Coyne and Gordon Herd both return from injury.

Baikie, who has also managed to persuade John Adam to return after he'd said he was quitting the game, said: "We need to start picking up wins in the league because, take Bo'ness out of the equation and everyone else is fighting to avoid relegation."

Whitburn, who are only three points off the bottom, return to league business having been boosted by a 3-1 derby win over Fauldhouse in the East of Scotland Cup last Saturday.