Whilst the smart money is still on City captain Mark Fotheringham heading out of the door marked 'exit!', the Canaries today bolstered their squad further – after the flurry of January loan signings – with the arrival of Reading forward David Mooney.
The 24-year-old, who is currently playing fifth fiddle to Kevin Doyle, Noel Hunt, Shane Long and Leroy Lita, joins Bryan Gunn and his troops' fight for Championship survival until April 4.
After treading a familiar path over to Berkshire from Ireland last summer, the former Cork City striker has found it hard to establish himself ahead of his countrymen at the Madejski Stadium and has only made two Carling Cup appearances for Steve Coppell's men.
To be fair to the 6ft 1in Irishman though, the Royals have one of the division's hottest properties in Doyle, and Hunt ? brother of Reading's other star man Stephen ? has impressed in his first season in English football.
And Gunn, who already has Carl Cort, Jamie Cureton, Alan Gow, Chris Killen and Cody McDonald at his disposal, is hoping that City can capitalise on Reading's abundance of riches.
“David will hopefully be bringing goals with him,” the City boss told the club's official website earlier today.
“I watched him in a reserve game on Wednesday afternoon, playing up front with Leroy Lita, where he bagged a hat-trick and made three others.
“He looks like he has got a great appetite for the game, is hungry and eager to play Championship football, which has been difficult with Doyle, Long and Lita in contention with him at Reading. I also spoke to Leroy who gave him a glowing recommendation.”
First of all, however, and Mooney must break into a side which has had a big boost of confidence after that tremendous win at QPR on Tuesday night.
It may be a long way back for Cureton now after he was left out of the 16 the other night, but with Gow, Killen and McDonald all champing at the bit, and Wes Hoolahan impressive again in his 'in the hole' role at Loftus Road, there is certainly completion for places in attack.
Elsewhere on a busy day at Carrow Road, Scottish starlet Kris Renton has made the short trip down the A47 to join King's Lynn on a short-term deal ? also until April 4.
He became the youngest-ever player to make his debut for the Canaries when he came on as a substitute at Leicester in April 2007.
The Scot has made a total of three appearances, two as a substitute, but his career has been on hold after suffering a broken leg in an Academy match at Chelsea last season
The 18-year-old has scored nine goals in 11 starts for the Academy this season and being under contract at City until the summer of 2010, Gunn and Co will be hoping he can get some games, and goals, under his belt before pushing on for season 2009-10.
Staying on the subject and there was still no official word on the departure of City skipper Fotheringham tonight although it is believed that a loan move to play-off chasing Preston North End is still on the cards.
Gunn has already admitted that he has spoken to Alan Irvine about a deal and when asked after the QPR success whether his future lay elsewhere, he simply replied “that's quite possible.”
Add the fact that his replacement, Darel Russell, netted the winner in West London, and Gunn's 'disappointment' at his reaction to his substitution in the Coventry defeat last Saturday, and it all points towards Fotheringham's departure after just over two years in Norfolk.
Tom Haylett
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