Gunn: We need a little help from our friends

JONATHAN REDHEAD

City's Mr Fixit Bryan Gunn today admitted they will need a helping hand if they are to recruit quality players to Norwich.

Legendary City goalkeeper and current club liaison Bryan Gunn says geography and finance are the biggest obstacles in attracting Premier League quality players to Norfolk as Peter Grant desperately searches for a solution to his centre-back crisis.

City have just one fit, recognised, senior central defender in the shape of Gary Doherty, with skipper Jason Shackell injured and striker Dion Dublin forced into action in the back four.

But while Grant has taken former Cameroon international Lucien Mettomo on trial, and declared an interest in Wigan's Fitz Hall, the gap still needs to be filled.

Now Gunn is hoping a top-flight side will offer more than tea and sympathy and help fund a loan move for one of their players, and follow the lead of Fulham, who paid part of Tony Warner's wages during his temporary switch to Carrow Road last season.

“It's very difficult,” Gunn said. “Finances play a big part in it. When you start speaking to Premier League clubs about players who are not playing in their first teams, normally the players are in double figures in thousands, in their wages and so that plays a part in it.

“In the past when we had Tony Warner from Fulham, they were very good in helping us out with the wages on that, so if we can have some help, great.

“It tends to go down to finance and geography. We've got the calls in and a lot of players will remember Norwich from being in the Premier League a couple of years ago, so hopefully they realise we've got ambitions of trying to get back there and who knows?

“If their future's not at a Premier League club at the moment then hopefully we can look after them and find them a place at Norwich.

“It's a bit of a lottery because other clubs will be in for the same players and it's just really trying to entice players to come to Norwich.”

Gunn admitted City need another centre-back to help provide competition for places in and area of the pitch the Canaries are currently depleted in. And he added he hoped there would be some positive news soon.

“We've obviously strengthened in other areas and we just feel at this particular moment in time there's opportunities there to look at players coming in,” he said.

“Competition for places is what we're after. The manager said that about the other signings we've taken in. They're there to compete with players who are already in the squad to make the squad very competitive throughout the whole team from goalkeeper through to the bench.

“Even on the bench now there's competition for places and people who aren't getting picked in the 16, you can see the disappointment in their faces but that's the way we want it.

“Centre back is obviously an area we've been looking at. We've been speaking to clubs in the Premier League and we're hoping to make movements on that in the next few days.

“We're going to keep looking and keep out options open and hopefully we'll have something to announce, I'm not sure if it will be before the weekend, but certainly in this busy period coming up we'll look to strengthen the squad that we've got.”

Meanwhile, Gunn said a permanent move for Mettomo looks like a no-go with the player attracting interest from other clubs.

“We had Mettomo on trial and he did very well. He was looking for a contract straight away, but we just felt with his fitness levels we couldn't do it,” Gunn said.

“We believe he's speaking with other clubs at the moment and possibly going in and having a few days with those clubs. Our offer is open to him to come to train and get his fitness levels up. He was a decent pedigree, obviously as an international with Cameroon and has played at Premier League level, but we just felt we needed someone ready to step straight into a first team place.”