If new City boss Glenn Roeder wanted to find a teenager bursting with confidence and with a huge 'No fear!' streak to his game, then Ched Evans is probably just that lad.
The 18-year-old Manchester City youngster this afternoon became Roeder's fourth loan signing and proved once again that the new Canary manager is not short of friends in high places as he added Sven Goran Eriksson to his list of Premiership pals following nods from Steve Bruce (Taylor), Billy Davies (Camara) and Sam Allardyce (Pattison).
All four players are likely to feature in this weekend's home clash with Coventry City as Roeder desperatly looks to kick-start Norwich's wretched season into life.
Indeed, the Norwich boss may yet have one more up his sleeve. Even if that's it for now, Evans' arrival is intriguing – not least given the impact that his City reserve pal Ishmael Miller has already had on West Bromwich Albion's fortunes this season.
Speaking to the official Manchester City website this summer after Evans was awarded his first professional contract, City's Academy boss Jim Cassell gave a few hints as to just what Norwich have signed tonight.
A hungry, young athlete would appear to be the simple answer – and in the form of his teenage life if his Premier Reserve League record is any guide.
That and last night's events at Ninian Park where he bagged a hat-trick for the Welsh Under-21s against France, albeit two from the penalty spot.
“His great qualities are a wonderful attitude, he's never an ounce of trouble around the place and he works hard,” Cassell said.
“He is improving technically as well, he has a good shape for the job he does, he likes working, he likes scoring goals and he loves being at the club. Those qualities give him an outstanding chance.”
Having been given his first taste of senior action in the Carling Cup clash with the Canaries, Eriksson has clearly decided that his education is now best served in the Championship – just as it has worked wonders for Miller at The Hawthorns.
“He's very strong and aggressive, but obviously on occasion he's a touch na?ve about the game,” added Cassell, as Roeder continues to recruit the kind of power performers that this division demands.
“You'd expect that for such a young striker, but he has worked really hard at the physical side of the game and if he continues to do that then his skills will improve because we work so hard on the technical things at the club. There's no reason why he should not do well.”
Cassell's labours are clearly bearing fruit with Eriksson reaping the rewards in the shape of Micah Richards, Michael Johnson, Stephen Ireland, Miller and Co. Evans looks just the next one off the production line at Eastlands.
Fresh from bagging that hat-trick in last night's 4-2 win over the French – a feat that was today being hailed as the best-ever performance from a Welsh Under-21 side – Evans should arrive in Norfolk flying confidence-wise.
Speaking afterwards Evans was setting his sights on firing Bryan Flynn's youngsters into the UEFA Championship finals proper next summer.
“If we continue to play like this we have a good chance of qualifying,” City's latest loan signing told www.icwales.co.uk.
“It was a great match to be involved in, I enjoyed every minute. We were ahead early on but when the French got back to 2-1 up you start to feel that you are not going to be able to beat such a big nation.
“I did not really think we would come back but it shows how competitive we are in, we never gave up,” he added. “Maybe we could have thought that we would not get back at them, but this shows we have faith in ourselves and each other.”
Back in Norfolk and this evening the free-scoring youngster made it clear that he is determined to follow in Miller's footsteps and make an early name for himself in the second tier of the English game. From there, he'll take the top flight by storm.
“I'm doing well at the moment,” he told CanariesWorld tonight. “I just want to see if I can do it in the Championship really – that'll be the challenge.”
The lad clearly lacks little by way of belief. “I work hard, I've got an eye for goal and I'm a winner,” he said simply when asked what his qualities were.
Evans' arrival – City's new No32 is here until January 1 – will have several knock-on effects.
Not least on the likes of Chris Martin and Ryan Jarvis who could be in real danger of seeing someone march in and steal their 'rising prospect' thunder. That tag has long weighed heavily around Jarvis' neck and he has a fight and a half on his hands to secure his long-term future at Carrow Road.
For Martin, this could be a not-so gentle reminder that he cannot afford to take anything for granted. He's got opposition now.
Indeed, it was clear at a media lunch earlier this week that Roeder is more than happy to drop such gauntlets at the feet of his own Academy products. 'Do they want to play for Norwich – or King's Lynn?' was the gist of his thoughts. How much do they really want it?
With all four of Roeder's loan signings likely to feature heavily in this weekend's line-up, should the City boss prise a fifth out of someone else, it would also ensure that there would be no room at the inn for on-loan Chelsea youngster Jimmy Smith.
For whilst clubs can have an unlimited number of emergency loans only five can appear in the match 16. It will also mean that Roeder will have to play it very clever regarding any loan keeper move to cover for Matty Gilks' 11-week absence through injury.
A short-term 'permanent' move for an experienced free agent is the most likely outcome – that and then keeping Joe Lewis firmly within his reach from January 1.
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