Chris Lakey Glenn Roeder gave a mystery Premiership player a verbal ear-bashing after he turned down a loan move to Carrow Road.The Canaries boss had been hoping to include the player in his squad for Saturday's game against Leicester, but, having waited 24 hours for an answer, was told the deal was off, leaving Roeder angry and frustrated.

Chris Lakey

Glenn Roeder gave a mystery Premiership player a verbal ear-bashing after he turned down a loan move to Carrow Road.

The Canaries boss had been hoping to include the player in his squad for Saturday's game against Leicester, but, having waited 24 hours for an answer, was told the deal was off, leaving Roeder angry and frustrated.

"We had permission from a club to talk to a player to come here on loan until the end of the season," said Roeder.

"He is not going to get a game at his club where he is now, the manager told him that clearly, but he still prefers to train Monday to Friday and to put his feet up on the sofa on Saturday and Sunday.

"But that is the modern day footballer. Once I knew he wasn't coming I told him what I thought of him.

"I've told him to sort himself out, because if he doesn't he's going to end up with a playing career of less than 100 games. I gather he's turned down a few other loan moves.

"It's frustrating because some footballers seem happy to train all week and pick up their money and then put their feet up at the weekend."

Roeder has kept the identity of the player firmly under wraps, and when asked what position he played replied "utility - it covers every position then".

Asked whether or not the player would be joining City, he said: "I wouldn't have thought so.

"His manager doesn't want him so I don't know what he is going to do - he's got about 12 Saturdays with his feet up.

Roeder wasn't quite so discreet when discussing other targets, hinting that talks are on-going with Birmingham chief executive Karren Brady to bring in defender Martin Taylor.

"I am always positive every day that we will get a player in that day," he said.

"I'm on the telephone trying to cajole people, to make them understand that we have already offered too much for your player and you should be letting us having him - but she doesn't seem to see that at the moment."

She?

"He or she, I'm not sure," Roeder laughed. "I give too many clues away don't I?"