Chris Lakey Ched Evans could still be a Norwich City player at the end of the season, if Glenn Roeder can win another persuasive argument with Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Chris Lakey

Ched Evans could still be a Norwich City player at the end of the season, if Glenn Roeder can win another persuasive argument with Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Evans made a surprise return to City on an emergency loan on Thursday, having enjoyed a successful stint that had seemingly been terminated for good when he returned to Eastlands after the New Year's day game at Crystal Palace.

The teenager goes straight into the Canaries squad for today's trip to Barnsley and while he is ineligible for the FA Cup third round replay at Bury on Tuesday, he could yet feature in the competition.

Evans' current loan deal ends on February 26, but Roeder confirmed he would be looking to extend it well before then.

“I think there is an opportunity - if Manchester City decide he can stay here and it will benefit Ched to stay here all year, before the end of the January we can do that because as far as Manchester City are concerned the Premiership window closes and they will know exactly where they are a few days before the end of January and we can change that into a window to window, which ultimately we would like to do,” he said.

Should Evans' loan be extended after February, then Roeder expects him to be freed for any FA Cup ties Norwich may be involved in.

“We will see how their replay goes,” he said. “There is a possibility that if they didn't win their replay against West Ham, and we beat Bury and Ched doesn't play against Southampton (in the fourth round).

“If he then stays on a season long loan, and we get past Southampton he would, I am sure, allow him to play, there would be no reason to not let him play, if he is staying here for the rest of the season.”

Evans scored twice in six starts for the Canaries and Roeder said he was keen to return.

“They told me he never even unpacked his bags when he left us, so that would suggest he is pretty keen,” he said.

“I am very grateful to Sven to let him come back here. I completely understand his slight concerns for his own squad, I would have done exactly the same as he did - in fact I did it many times at Newcastle last year. He was just concerned that he didn't want to be left short himself.

“Sven-Goran Eriksson is incredibly intelligent, a very, very clever man, he doesn't need to use the physical aspect at all, it's all in his brain, he's clever, and I think - and I know it suits me to say this - he has made a good decision on Ched's behalf because Ched will carry on playing football here.

“We will keep him match fit and if he does need him back he will get a player who is match fit and ready to help Manchester City out if need be. I think Sven, although he took his time making the final decision, has come to the right one.”