If anyone had any hope that the names 'Daley, L' and 'Adeyemi, T' might be added to the list of players scheduled to be travelling to Nottingham overnight, that was promptly dashed by City boss Glenn Roeder at Colney this morning.
The pair had, of course, shone in Tuesday night's 4-2 dismissal of Arsenal's brightest and best – Daley grabbing a hat-trick as the newly-signed Adeyemi strode imperiously through the heat of that midfield battle.
And with on-loan French striker Antoine Sibierski reported to be “struggling” for this weekend's live TV clash at the City Ground and Darel Russell still suspended, so – in theory – opportunity ought to knock for the teenage pair this weekend.
In practice, however, and Roeder was quite insistent that neither was yet ready to make the step up. The 17-year-old Adeyemi was pencilled in for April; Daley's goal-scoring heroics barely got a mention in despatches.
That could, of course, simply be for Colin Calderwood's benefit; that the City chief actually has a Saturday night surprise tucked up his sleeve for everyone.
If not then Daley – like Adeyemi – will just have to bide his time and set his sights no higher this season than an extended run in the FA Youth Cup.
Roeder revealed last weekend that Adeyemi was the 17th name on his list for the home clash with Swansea City as Lee Croft disappeared with flu. Was he still one rung away from a place in the manager's first team squad?
“He won't be travelling with us – no,” said Roeder this morning, swift to highlight the youngster's contribution on Tuesday night.
“I thought he did really well against Arsenal the other night – they all put in a good performance.
“But for me, personally, if I was to have picked out one player in that game it was Tom. He was definitely one player that you could have put an Arsenal shirt on and he wouldn't have looked out of place,” said Roeder, happy now to sing the former Norwich School boy's progress now that he's put pen to paper.
“The fact that we've signed him for three years [means] that I'm comfortable saying that. And Tom's only goal now is to play in Norwich's first team as quickly as he can.
“But he's not there yet – and it would be wrong to put him in at the moment,” said Roeder, as he laid out his own, preferred timetable for the player's development.
“Hopefully, by the time we get towards the end of the season – come April time – he will have progressed enough in terms of strength to be strong enough to play. I've seen some very good young players ruined by managers putting them in too soon.
“Playing against Arsenal reserves and playing Championship football is two different things completely.”
And did the same thinking apply to Daley, who both the pace and the composed finish to unsettle a clutch of Gunners' youngsters?
“Absolutely – absolutely,” stressed Roeder. “He needs to keep learning his trade in the youth team – and in the reserve team.”
In fact, it wasn't Daley's name that was on the manager's list as to 'Who next..?' after Adeyemi.
“Korey Smith,” he said.
“He might just be one that pops out of the woodwork and is a pleasant surprise – because he's a tough kid and got an amount of ability,” said Roeder, with the Norwich-born midfielder not featuring on Tuesday night.
“And he does quite well when he trains with the first team – as he does on a regular basis. Tom is also training with the first team because his brain is quick enough to see that one-touch pass. And, as I say, I think that's a fair accolade to say that he wouldn't look out of place in an Arsenal shirt.”
Who plays in a City shirt tomorrow evening as the Canaries look to halt their slide back into the deepest of mires is anyone's guess given the various injury, suspension and basic form issues hitting Roeder's best-laid plans.
Minus Russell, centre-midfield will be Sammy Clingan and AN Other; Matty Pattison, in all likelihood.
Up front and minus Sibierski, the City boss will surely pair Leroy Lita with Arturo Lupoli after the Italian returned to goal-scoring ways against the Swans. Poor Jamie Cureton looks shot to pieces confidence-wise and will have to hope for a place on the bench.
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