Trialist Vemund Brekke Skard is set to become the club's first ever Norwegian player after being offered a contract until the end of 2006/07. TWTD first broke the news of the midfielder's trial on Tuesday of last week.

Boss Joe Royle told the club site: "Vemund has done well while he has been with us and we have offered him a contract for the rest of this season and next year as well."

Skard, currently an amateur, is out of contract with regional second division side Brumunddal now that the Norwegian season has ended. The central midfielder has been studying to be a teacher at university.

The 24-year-old was spotted by Town contact Paul Hodges who was also responsible for bringing Sito to Portman Road in the summer. Hodges had travelled to Norway to watch Oslo Øst striker or midfielder Karim Aoudia in action against Brumunddal but instead was impressed with Skard.

The central midfielder did well in Tuesday's 1-0 reserves friendly defeat to Spurs despite finding the tempo faster than he is used to and admitting to tiredness during the second half.

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