That explained a lot. For as the Canaries headed into battle today with Archibald-Henville on the bench, it only begged one question… where was Shacks?
In Wolverhampton for a medical, was the short answer.
And, indeed, the gaffer confirmed as much afterwards.
“We've accepted an offer from Wolves to allow him to speak to them today,” said Roeder to the Press an hour after this afternoon's 1-1 draw with Blues.
Mick McCarthy had been hanging round the 24-year-old all summer; now it appears that he's finally got his man 48-hours before the summer transfer window closes.
Subject, of course, to personal terms and a medical.
“Whether he signs for them today – I don't know,” added Roeder.
“If he signs for them, I expect we'll take another central defender before the window closes on Monday. If he doesn't sign for them, he'll come back and work hard to try and regain his shirt and try and get it off Stefanovic.”
Given that the Serb was en route to the sponsors lounge as the gaffer spoke to pick up his Man of the Match award, Shacks faces an uphill struggle on that score.
Smart money is on him signing. How much for?
Undisclosed, was the only word that crossed the manager's lips. Rumour over the summer was �1 million; the suggestion tonight was that it might be further south than that and nearer the �500,000 mark.
Which, in fairness, for a player that was one of five competing for those two centre-back berths is not bad money. Particularly if you need to slap it on someone else's table pretty quickly before Monday night's transfer deadline.
Mr A-H is always going to be due a game at some point; Spurs Reserves' skippers can't be that bad; the lad looks built for the part too.
Throw in The Doc's impending return from injury – and the fact that Roeder has already 'signed' him by offering him that new deal over the summer and Shacks was the spare part. Losing the captaincy will have hurt; married in the summer, new club, fresh start… Yep, makes sense all round.
One out, now to get the big one in…
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