Paul Lambert sprung a transfer window surprise this morning by letting Jon Otsemobor join League One rivals Southampton on a free transfer.
The former Liverpool and Crewe man enjoyed a prolonged run in the side when Lambert first arrived in Norfolk, but has only played once since the arrival of Russell Martin in November.
That performance against Millwall was not his best in all honesty and it would be fair to say that Norwich supporters have found him a source of frustration in the latter part of his City career.
With Martin now established as the first-choice right-back and Michael Spillane on his way back from a hamstring injury, Lambert will feel he has enough cover in that position.
Don’t forget that Academy youngster George Francomb is also emerging and after a couple of promising showings before picking up a thigh problem, he looks like being one to watch.
“Jon did really well for me and he moves on with our best wishes,” said Canary chief Lambert this morning in a brief statement on the club’s official website. “Good luck to him.”
The Liverpudlian made a total of 104 appearances in yellow and green and when Peter Grant brought him to Carrow Road in the summer of 2007, he looked the real deal having been named in the League One team of the year prior to his arrival.
With power and pace in abundance, when the 26-year-old was on his game, he was unplayable but all too often recently, Otsemobor was off the boil.
On his last showing, it was evident that the crowd were starting to get on the defender’s back and once that happens at a football club it’s hard to turn back.
But promotion rivals Southampton will be hoping that a change will be as good as a rest for Otsemobor and with the Saints adding Norwich target Dan Seaborne to their ranks yesterday, Alan Pardew is clearly keen to do business in this transfer window.
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