Chris Lakey Glenn Roeder says loan star Ched Evans has a “God-given talent” for scoring goals.But while the Canaries manager is a confirmed admirer of the 19-year-old rising star he insists there is more to come.

Chris Lakey

Glenn Roeder says loan star Ched Evans has a “God-given talent” for scoring goals.

But while the Canaries manager is a confirmed admirer of the 19-year-old rising star he insists there is more to come.

Evans' match-clinching stoppage time goal against Burnley on Saturday was his seventh in 16 starts, and Roeder is convinced thjere are more to come, once a few rough edges are polished.

“He is, in my opinion, a natural goal scorer,” said Roeder. “His ability to score goals is a God-given talent.

“That is something you can't coach. Any coach or manager who says, 'I taught that player to score goals', is a liar and a bad coach, because you can't. Scoring goals is a God-given talent.”

Roeder brought Evans to Carrow Road, initially on a three-month deal, on November 21 - the day after he scored a hat-trick for Wales Under-21s against France in a European Championship qualifying game.

Evans scored on his full debut, and although he returned to Eastlands, Roeder managed to persuade Sven-Goran Eriksson to send him back to Norwich first for a month and then, after more persuasion, until the end of the season.

And while the chances of seeing the teenager in Norwich colours next season are slim, Roeder is adamant that he will send him back a better player.

“There are other things in his game, although we won't have him much longer, that we need to work hard with him at, in terms of coaching him to do things better,” Roeder said.

Evans has been on the bench in five of the last Norwich games, his scoring reappearance ending a goal drought which stretched back to two months to the away victory at Cardiff City.

“He twisted and turned and put himself in an impossible position to score and how he got it in from that angle I don't know - and I don't care either,” said Roeder.

“It has been frustrating for him and it has been frustrating for us because if you were to see some of the goals he scores in training during the week - thank God we put nets on goals, otherwise it would take five minutes to go and get the ball back.”

Evans' scoring return at the weekend puts extra pressure on Jamie Cureton ahead of the derby day trip to Ipswich on Sunday. Cureton missed a couple of good opportunities against Burnley and was replaced by Evans with just under half an hour remaining and both players could be fighting for the role alongside Dion Dublin at Portman Road - which suits Roeder down to the ground.

“The only headaches I have is when players are injured and there is no pressure on their places and players know if they don't play well they are going to play,” he said.

“You can never have too many players to choose from - in an ideal world I would have 30, fully fit, all fighting for 11 starting positions.

“That's what I'm paid to do - pick a winning team. It is never a problem - they say is it a problem for you when all the players are fit who to pick and who to leave out and for me personally, no, it's actually something that I enjoy.”