The 18-year-old is set to join up with the Canaries when the transfer window opens next month after the club fought off Premier League interest from Brighton and Crystal Palace to secure his signature from Dundalk in a deal reportedly worth £350,000.

Leonard was a standout performer in the Irish side’s promotion-winning campaign last season, featuring 34 times in the league and scoring three goals.

However, he has not played for the Lilywhites since the end of February after being struck down by a virus in his leg, limiting him to three top-flight appearances this season.

Dundalk boss Ciaran Kilduff was asked following a 3-1 defeat to Bohemians last Friday for an update on the Irishman, who had been hospitalised because of the infection.

“Vinny picked up quite a serious virus a couple of months ago,” Kilduff told Between the Stripes. “He was in no condition, was hospitalised and then had a bit of a lay-off.

“He is back now, but he’s obviously still got a bit of a way to go and is dealing with the effects of coming off antibiotics and stuff like that.

“But he is getting stronger by the week. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’ll be back this week or next.”

Norwich’s recruitment network in Ireland has already yielded success stories in Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele, and there are high hopes that Leonard can follow a similar path when he initially links up with the club’s development side this summer.

Norwich have enjoyed success recruiting young players from Ireland (Image: PA)

But with just four matches remaining before his move to England, some have questioned whether the transfer was a factor in his continued absence.

“That’s definitely not the case,” confirmed the Dundalk boss.

“This was a duty of care with Vinny, who took ill. Both Norwich and we facilitated getting him back to 100 per cent, and he nearly is; he’s perfect.

“I suppose there is a coincidence, and I understand the timing might suggest that, given he’s only coming back now.

“But had Vinny been fit over the last couple of weeks, he would have been available and probably playing for us as well. He genuinely wasn’t.”