Prospective City keeper target David Marshall played the game to perfection this morning as he grabbed the nearest, passing Scottish tabloid football reporter and sang like a wee birdie from the Glasgow rooftops as to how much he'd love to join the Canaries.
The 22-year-old Celtic youth product was reported to be the subject of a ?500,000 bid by Norwich last month – 24 hours after the wantaway No1 had asked Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan to be put on the Parkhead transfer list.
Norwich's initial bid was rejected leaving all concerned in limbo – particularly once Marshall's agent, Willie Mackay, disappeared south to engineer Joey Barton's ?5.5 million move out of Manchester City.
With Newcastle United and new Magpies boss Sam Allardyce having duly rolled out the red carpet for player and agent alike over the last 48 hours, Mackay could now turn his attentions back to Marshall's future as the player himself looked to get the wheels turning again by today's 'I'd like to join Norwich…' speech.
Somewhere in there, there is a deal to be done – particularly given Marshall's own clear desire to re-acquaint himself with everyone at Colney after his loan spell was cut so cruelly short by the serious ankle injury sustained in the FA Cup trip to Chelsea.
“I really enjoyed my time there and when you look around and see the size of the club you know it's a good place to play your football,” Marshall told the Daily Record this morning.
The fact that he senses a spot of Premiership intent floating about this summer has merely fuelled his urgency to get away. He would, you suspect, like to be back within the building for the start of pre-season training come the first week of July.
“Norwich have high hopes of moving up to the highest level so I'd obviously be interested in going back.
“They're one of just a number of clubs in that division who will be going for promotion next season – which makes the Championship one of the most competitive leagues,” he added, as all talk of the likes of Danny Coyne, Tony Warner and Neil Alexander dwindled.
“It will depend a lot on who they manage to bring in during the summer, but they can be up there challenging with the rest,” he said.
City boss Peter Grant made it clear straight after the final game of the season that he was looking to recruit the next Kevin Keelan and Bryan Gunn – a keeper young enough to rack up “600, 700” appearances for the Canaries. Marshall fits that bill to a 'T' with age firmly on his side.
Respect between the prospective Canary keeper and his likely manager come August would appear to be mutual. Gunn, of course, will not be far away himself as the club's liason officer keeps the wheels of any move ticking over.
“Peter Grant showed great faith in me by taking me to Norwich on loan. He gave me the chance I was looking for,” Marshall told the Daily Record.
“It was unfortunate I got injured four games into the loan spell and it had to be cut short. I got on really well with Peter and now Jim Duffy is down there as well. Jim has a very good way with everyone and seems like a great coach.”
The fact that he still has Polish No1 Artur Boruc barring his path to a regular gig at Parkhead doesn't help – nor does the fact that in his absence Strachan has installed former Inverness keeper Mark Brown on the bench.
Time for the young man to spread his wings and fly the nest. Coincidence or not, but both Keelan and Gunn were 22 years of age when they first arrived in Norfolk.
“If I was playing for Celtic every week then obviously I would stay,” said Marshall. “But I feel I need a fresh challenge to get back playing regularly again.
“It has been more or less two years without playing on a regular basis which isn't the best. I've spoken to the gaffer about it and he's been fine. He understands my situation.
“I need to play every week and don't want another year on the sidelines.”
Nor does he begrudge Boruc's place in the spotlight as Celtic look forward to another tilt at the Champions League after their latest SPL title triumph.
“Artur has been doing well so I can have no complaints on that front. He has been a model of consistency and his performances have been of a very high standard,” said City's No1 target, confirming again that he was fit and raring to go again after four months intensive rehab back in Glasgow.
“I'm fit now having had all the treatment on my injury. Now we'll just need to wait and see what happens.”
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