Pete Carroll has admitted that he would prefer to have Marshawn Lynch at the Seattle Seahawks' training camp.

The running back is holding out of the team's pre-season preparations in a bid to force the Super Bowl champions to offer him a new contract.

The head coach told ESPN: "We've had a substantial plan working for us for years now and Marshawn was a big part of this plan.

"Just a couple of years back we made a big statement and made a big effort for him and we wish that he was with us now.

"But this is a tremendous opportunity for the guys getting their shot. Robert Turbin and Christine Michael, they're ready to go and really fired up about this opportunity and are going to try and take full advantage of it."

Lynch signed a four-year contract extension with the NFC West side ahead of the 2011 NFL season.

Written by
Sian Cowper