City boss Paul Lambert has admitted he could be tempted to dip a toe in the January transfer market, as the Canaries prepare for the long trip west to Yeovil.
With the recent acquisitions of Russell Martin and Anthony McNamee, there is no longer a panic on to boost numbers.
But the Scot revealed that he’s always looking to ‘help the current group’ – despite dismissing the midweek link with 12-goal Rochdale hitman Chris Dagnall.
“Yes, possibly, depending if we can do it – there are a lot of factors behind it. But like I’ve always said, we never stop looking to help the current group,” he told the press at Colney this morning.
“It’s hard because we don’t want to go down the loan route and take a lot of problems off other clubs. This club has been there and won’t be going there again. But we may look to do something.”
That something, however, doesn’t look like being the addition of Dale forward Dagnall. Stranger things have happened though…
“I would love to know what they mean by a mole or an insider in the club, I think they are saying 450,000? No, there’s nothing in that. We are always looking to help the current group of lads out, but that’s a no.”
On the outgoing front, Lambert was keen to point out that there had been no enquiries for any of his players, although he did hint that one or two on the fringe could be shipped out.
The likes of Paul McVeigh and Jamie Cureton have found themselves out in the cold in recent weeks. And the pair, along with some of the younger members of the squad, could find themselves elsewhere in January, if only on a temporary basis.
“No, my phone has not rung once which is fantastic. I am not looking for any reason to get rid of any of the lads, although maybe it would help a couple to go out on loan.”
The Canary chief has had the benefit of a rare midweek off, and he revealed that it has given him and his coaching staff some much-needed time at Colney with the players.
With a Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday schedule, Lambert hasn’t had a great deal of time to implement all of his ideas on the training pitch. So when it comes along, you’ve got to make the most of it.
“Yes, it was good to have that break. It gives us a chance to have a week to catch up on the fitness, and work hard in training which is great, as we have two hard games coming up.
“But I don’t have any problems with two games in a week, that’s football. I just get on with it and this club goes about their business of winning games.”
With thoughts now turning to tomorrow’s clash at Huish Park, Lambert did have one piece of bad news in his weekly injury bulletin, with Luke Daley ruled out due to a recurrence of his thigh complaint.
The Academy product has only just returned to action and made his comeback with a substitute appearance in the 3-0 win at Southend.
But the Norwich boss, while not revealing how long the winger-cum-striker will be on the sidelines, has ruled him out of the trek to south Somerset.
“Luke has upset his old injury, so he’s out for the time being. It’s a shame for the lad as he did excellently for us at Southend and, more than anything, it’s frustrating for him.
“On the plus side, Matty Gill has returned to light training this week. It’s still too early for match action at the moment but it is great to have him back and have another body fighting for a place.”
And – Daley apart – with no fresh injury worries ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s Yeovil clash, the smart money will be on another Canary victory.
If they make the trip back to Norfolk with three points in the bag, it will be their seventh league win in eight. But Lambert was quick to stress this is no David and Goliath meeting – the Glovers are on a level playing field for a reason.
The Huish Park club sit nicely in mid-table and have a decent record of late. And Lambert doesn’t want any complacency slipping in – either from his squad or the Canary faithful.
“Listen, they have earned their right to be playing us. We have dropped from the Premiership and the Championship and they have worked hard as a club to work through the leagues, where we have taken a back step, so they have more than earned their right.
“Terry Skiverton has done a great job this season to turn them around. They are a hard working team and are getting good results. It will be a hard game but if we go and play like we know we can, and have been, we can win.”
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