CHRIS LAKEY Glenn Roeder sprang a surprise on a busy day's business in the transfer market yesterday when 18-year-old Chelsea youngster Ryan Bertrand moved to Carrow Road on loan until the end of the season.

CHRIS LAKEY

Glenn Roeder sprang a surprise on a busy day's business in the transfer market yesterday when 18-year-old Chelsea youngster Ryan Bertrand moved to Carrow Road on loan until the end of the season.

Having completed the anticipated permanent signing of Newcastle midfielder Matty Pattison and extended Mo Camara's loan deal from Derby until the summer, Roeder then pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the announcement that Bertrand was joining the Canaries.

At close of play, the City boss was still awaiting news of Ched Evans, with Manchester City yet to decide whether or not to allow the teenage striker to Carrow Road for a second loan spell.

The only deficit on the day's trading was the loss of midfielder Jimmy Smith, who has gone the other way and returned to Chelsea following his spell on loan.

Bertrand, who was on loan at League One side Oldham until last weekend, comes highly recommend, with Roeder having consulted England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, among others, about the left-back's credentials.

“He comes to me highly recommended,” said Roeder, who has both Bertrand and Pattison available for today's FA Cup third round tie at home to Bury.

“As always I make sure I do my homework. I asked a lot of people, including, although he might not have seen a lot of Ryan around the place, Joe Cole, who I am very close to at Chelsea. He said, 'Glenn everything I have seen or heard has been very positive that Ryan's got a big future in the game', and he did extremely well at Oldham.

“People Mark Crossley, his goalkeeper at Oldham who Lee Clark is very close to, we quizzed him about Ryan and everything was good. Robert Fleck, who scouts for the club now, watched him at Southend and said he was probably the outstanding player on the pitch, and ready to step up to Championship level.

“Frank Arnesen (Chelsea sporting director) told me there were at least three other Championship clubs that wanted to take Ryan, but Frank was particularly keen because of the experience that Jimmy (Smith) had here to point Ryan in our direction. It is good news for the club that young players want to come and further their careers at Norwich City.”

Bertrand provides instant competition for Camara, who was brought in in November to cover for long-term injury absentee Adam Drury.

“Sometimes away from home when we want to be a little more compact, not necessarily defensive minded because Ryan is an excellent attacking player, maybe there will be times when him and Mo Camara share that left side to make sure we are very tight when we have to defend down the left side,” Roeder said.

“We need more strength in depth down the left hand side and Ryan definitely gives us that.”

It's a quick turn-around for Bertrand after his spell with Oldham.

“I'm really looking forward to playing for such a big club as Norwich City,” said the England Under-19 international. “I knew Norwich had been looking at me over the last month or so and once I heard they wanted me, having only come back from my loan at Oldham yesterday, then I was straight up here.

“It's brilliant to get a chance to play here and I see it as the next stage of my career.”

Pattison signed a three-and-a-half year deal which could cost City up to £500,000 - and says it was the easiest decision of his career.

“I am just buzzing to be here permanent now,” he said. “I was worried in case it didn't happen and now it's happened I couldn't be happier. It's the easiest decision I have ever made.”

Roeder added: “I think it is an excellent move for us. He has shown his qualities since he has been here with us and it is an excellent career opportunity for Matty because he knows he will be getting a regular game here and that's what he needed at this stage of his career.

“I think one day both these men will be playing Premiership football, with, as far as Matty is concerned, I certainly hope it's with Norwich.”