Chris Lakey Kieran Gibbs is hoping to be the man in the middle at Carrow Road this afternoon.The Arsenal teenager partnered Matty Pattison in the heart of midfield for last weekend's home win over Barnsley, leaving manager Glenn Roeder with a welcome selection problem for today's visit of Blackpool.

Chris Lakey

Kieran Gibbs is hoping to be the man in the middle at Carrow Road this afternoon.

The Arsenal teenager partnered Matty Pattison in the heart of midfield for last weekend's home win over Barnsley, leaving manager Glenn Roeder with a welcome selection problem for today's visit of Blackpool.

Roeder has to decide whether to stick with his midfield, or bring back skipper Mark Fotheringham, who returns after a one-game suspension.

Gibbs' performance was in contrast to his debut against Hull, when he played left midfield and he was, in Roeder's words, "starved" of possession, with City's propensity for playing the ball wide right to Lee Croft.

"Which is what the manager wants," admitted Gibbs. "Lee is more of a natural winger than I am and the play goes a lot to him. You could tell when Huckerby came in the team last week that it moved more out to him as well because he's more of a natural winger."

Another option would be to switch him back to the left, but it's the centre where Gibbs feels more at home.

"I think when you play in the Championship the game is definitely won in the middle of the pitch," said Gibbs. "That's where the battle is and I enjoy that more, especially in the Championship, playing in the middle rather than out wide. I can be a bit quiet sometimes, but I think the middle is better for me. I think that's where I prefer most, but I just like being on the pitch really.

"There is competition for places, but I don't think anyone is going to be disappointed. They are going to be disappointed if they don't play, but that is not going to change how they feel on the day, they are always going to want the team to win. I think the competition is good for the team because it gets everyone wanting to play."

Gibbs was in the party that spent four days at a training camp in Spain this week and says the bonding, and the togetherness of the squad, is beneficial.

"It's just been about getting to know the boys and getting some warm weather training in, which we did most of the days we were out there, so it was a good trip for everyone," he said. "We were with each other 24/7, sometimes we were able to play a bit of golf and just get to know the boys a lot better."

Arsenal youngsters have hit the headlines this week, with Croatian striker Eduardo suffering terrible leg injuries in a tackle by Birmingham's former Canaries loan player Martin Taylor last weekend.

"I wish him all the best and I'm sure he will recover," said Gibbs. "He is a professional man and he loves playing football. He won't be back this season obviously, but this time next year I reckon he will be starting up again."