Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has delivered the first of his promised transfer deadline beating deals after signing Middlesbrough defender Matthew Bates on loan.

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder last night delivered the first of his promised transfer deadline beating deals when he signed Middlesbrough defender Matthew Bates on loan.

Roeder hinted he was closing in on a potential quartet of new arrivals after the Canaries' midweek win at Southampton to help maintain City's Championship surge.

Premiership starlet Bates has joined on loan until April 28, with Roeder running out of time to clinch a permanent deal for his prime target, Birmingham's Martin Taylor.

Boro off-loaded Jonathan Woodgate earlier this week but the Stockton-born defender, who can play in the centre of defence or at right-back, is well down the pecking order at the Riverside behind Roberth Huth, Chris Riggott, Emanuel Pogatetz and former academy team mate David Wheater.

Teesiders' boss Gareth Southgate hinted he was ready to let Bates out on loan recently in a bid to step up his comeback from a long term cruciate ligament knee injury.

The 21-year-old made his first appearance for the reserves last month since being injured in November 2006 during a previous loan spell at Ipswich - when he played against the Canaries in Town's 3-1 East Anglian derby victory at Portman Road.

Southgate said: “Matthew has coped well, but it's a long and lonely road no matter how much support you are given from the physio and the other players and staff.

“Now Matthew is training with no problems from the knee, and we are delighted for him. It will be like starting again for Matthew. But we know from what we have seen previously that he is a good young player, and we will give him time to get back to a good level. It's important that he makes a full recovery, but it's good to see him back to the point where he can play part of a game.”

The highly rated youngster signed a four-and-a-half year deal in January 2005 just weeks after making his Premiership debut. Bates also made five appearances in Boro's run to the Uefa Cup final the following season and has made a total of 32 appearances for the Teesiders.

Middlesbrough have a 24-hour recall clause, which they can activate any time after the first month of Bates' loan spell has elapsed.

Meanwhile, Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton yesterday insisted striker Martin Paterson is not for sale - at any price.

Wharton confirmed he had knocked back a Carrow Road inquiry for the Northern Irish hitman after City were reportedly ready to launch an £850,000 Glanford Park raid.

“I have had a very brief telephone conversation with someone from Norwich,” he said. “They inquired if Martin was available - and I said not at any price. When the response came that every player had his price, I told them that £5m would not be enough for them to take Martin. That was the end of the conversation and there was no offer made.”

Former club Stoke are entitled to a 20pc sell on clause after Paterson's protracted move from the Britannia last summer was settled by a transfer tribunal.