Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder is hopeful Leroy Lita will remain at Carrow Road beyond the second month of his loan spell - and would not rule out trying to make it a permanent switch.

Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder is hopeful Leroy Lita will remain at Carrow Road beyond the second month of his loan spell - and would not rule out trying to make it a permanent switch.

The Reading striker has been on loan at Carrow Road since the beginning of October and is expected to make his 11th start for the Canaries at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon (3pm).

Lita already has five goals to his name and with Jamie Cureton preparing to turn out for Barnsley for the next three months after sealing a temporary switch to Oakwell on Thursday, Roeder wants Lita to remain a part of his squad for as long as possible.

“I don't see why, if things are going okay at Reading and assuming Leroy wants to carry on playing first team football, that Reading don't leave him here for the third month, and that would be an ideal scenario for everybody,” said the Canaries boss.

“I know Reading's greatest concern is in January, when his contract runs out at the end of the year, that they try and capitalise on getting something for him rather than allowing him to leave on, basically, a Bosman next year.”

Lita is currently due to return to the Madejski Stadium after next Sunday's East Anglian derby with Ipswich Town at Carrow Road, although he can be recalled by Reading with just 24 hours notice at any time.

A third month would take his time at Norwich through to the New Year - the maximum length of time for any emergency loan - at which point the transfer window reopens and Reading will be hoping Lita's performances have encouraged someone to bid for the 23-year-old goalscorer.

And Roeder refused to rule out being that someone, despite City's well publicised tight purse strings.

“You never know,” added Roeder. “He's certainly done well enough to be in that equation but it's not something we're talking about or need to talk about today.”

As for Lita, he would be happy to spend a third month at Norwich but is not feeling any pressure to think long and hard about his future beyond Reading.

“Yeah, why not; I'm playing and enjoying it down here so I've got no problem with that,” said Lita to a third month. “I've not spoken about it, so I'm just looking forward to the game in Sheffield. I think I've got another two weeks left so we'll see then.”

But for being in the shop window, Lita added: “I'm not worried about that at all. I'm just concentrating on playing.

“I get asked that question all the time. I'm a young lad so there's plenty of football to be played yet.”