Canary youngster Chris Martin this morning admitted he'd happily add another string to his playing bow as City boss Peter Grant pondered his narrowing options ahead of Saturday's trip to Hull City.
Midfield is, of course, the manager's prime area of concern after kissing good-bye to both Jimmy Smith and Mark Fotheringham recently with lengthy ankle ligament injuries.
Given Simpn Lappin's thigh worries and Julien Brellier's delicate fitness issues and Darel Russell could be in desperate need of a partner come three o'clock Saturday.
One option is to flourish the cheque book in the direction of someone who can cover all manner of left-sided bases – centre-midfield included.
Hence the mounting speculation that after declaring his interest in Rangers' utility man Ian Murray in no uncertain fashion this morning, that the 26-year-old Scottish international could be hot-footing it south this afternoon with a view to becoming a Canary player come the weekend – medical and paperwork permitting.
Certainly that's what Rangers are expecting after revealing that to oil the wheels of Murray's exit they had agreed to forego a transfer fee – as Gers' chief executive Martin Bain revealed at the club's Annual General Meeting in Glasgow today.
?We took a decision based on the player's wishes, the manager's wishes and where he sits on our books. Ian was not going to feature so we are saving money on the wage bill.?
Another option is to carry on where he left off last Saturday in the 2-1 win over Southampton and add Luke Chadwick to his midfield mix; a third is to tweak the system again and squeeze Martin into his thinking after his highly-impressive outing for the reserves on Tuesday night.
Switch to 4-3-3 – or 4-3-1-2 – and Messrs Russell, Murray and, say, Brellier could yet provide the three-strong platform for the England under-19 youngster to go and strut his stuff.
?It was a new test for me,? said Martin this morning, who – by most accounts – passed said test with flying colours.
?I've played there a few times before so I didn't find it too difficult,? he added, after grabbing one of the four goals against Luton Reserves and being there or thereabouts for the other three.
?So, yes – I enjoyed the role.? The Beccles teenager knows where his heart lies. ?I'd prefer to play centre-forward, but if I'm asked to do a job in centre-mid then obviously I'm going to do it.?
It is an interesting point as to whether playing one of a two in a flat, midfield four is yet part of the Martin reportoire – that might be asking just too much of the Academy youngster that burst onto the scene with such a vengeance towards the back end of last season.
The arrival of both Jamie Cureton and David Strihavka and the return to fitness of Chris Brown has all ensured that first team places are rather harder to come by this summer. But Tuesday night's efforts will have done his cause no harm.
?It's been disappointing not to be involved – not difficult,? said Martin, still displaying an old head on his teenage shoulders.
?I've just got to keep working hard in training and in games like the other night in the reserves and, hopefully, the manager sees enough to put me in the team.?
That first team door isn't quite so wide open as it was when Robert Earnshaw joined the queue outside Neal Reynolds' door.
?We have strengthened a lot and we've brought some quality players in and I've got to work extra hard to get back into the team rather than last year when we had quite a depleted squad and I was kind of forced into the squad, if you like,? he added, that element of 'force' being helped in no small measure by his own individual performances – not least his efforts in the FA Youth Cup demolition of Premiership Portsmouth.
He was, equally, swift to salute Cureton's impact on proceedings. ?It's been amazing, to be perfectly honest – four goals in two games. You can't ask for any more than that.?
The sense is that both Lappin and Brellier – and even Murray – might all be available in one fitness shape or another come Saturday. Martin may yet have to bide his time. But he certainly comes under the 'chomping at the bit' category.
?I'd be happy to play anywhere,? said the City youngster. ?I wouldn't mind – as long as I'm on that pitch and I'm starting, I'd play anywhere.?
The one thing that is to Martin's advantage is his physicality. Whether it was a by-product of those early years as a championship-standard swimmer, he has the kind of upper-body build that defies his tender years – the kind of strength that will also defy being bundled over by some strapping Championship defender as he proved against Derby's Darren Moore last season.
?I think we've come through two physical tests already this season and we've got four points from the games, so I think playing against physical teams is no worries for the squad.
?Up at Preston we seemed to have a bit of steel about us which perhaps was lacking last year – and we've got a bit fight and determination in the squad, so I think we're going to be a lot tougher to beat.?
Could he do one of a two? Not in the hole where his natural attacking instincts have that much more licence? ?I think I could do it.
?I'd be happy to play anywhere, but it's obviously a different position for me – so it would be tough. But I'd be happy to fill in.?
In the hole, however, may be where the footballing gods intended Martin to play. he has the footballing intelligence to do it; he sees 'the big pictures' as ex-Canary boss Bruce Rioch used to put it.
?Sometimes in some games, you can't really play there because teams are so compact and so tight – so in somegames, it's not going to work.
?But, yes, it is a good position for me.?
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