CHRIS WISE Norwich City midfielder Jason Jarrett is hoping that a successful loan spell at Plymouth will help kick-start his stuttering career at Carrow Road. The 26-year-old summer signing has failed to impress for the Canaries since his arrival during the summer, making just six starts over the first three months of the season before being farmed out to the struggling Pilgrims at the end of November.

CHRIS WISE

Norwich City midfielder Jason Jarrett is hoping that a successful loan spell at Plymouth will help kick-start his stuttering career at Carrow Road.

The 26-year-old summer signing has failed to impress for the Canaries since his arrival during the summer, making just six starts over the first three months of the season before being farmed out to the struggling Pilgrims at the end of November.

But he was a big hit at Home Park, more than doubling his appearances tally for the campaign and picking up a couple of man-of-the-match awards into the bargain as he helped his temporary employers move away from the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone.

Jarrett is now back at Norwich after the successful six-week stint on the south coast and with Youssef Safri and Carl Robinson both unavailable he looks set to be thrown straight back in at the deep end in this afternoon's FA Cup clash with West Ham.

The player himself was taking nothing for granted as he looked ahead to the big game - but he would clearly relish the opportunity to show manager and fans what he can do after failing to deliver the goods during the early stages of his City career.

“I don't think it's any secret that I have not completely settled here and I've not played the way I should have been playing,” said Jarrett. “I have not really played to my full ability yet.

“What I really need now is a run of games. I've only really played a game here, a couple of games there so far and it hasn't been easy to make an impression. If I am given a chance then hopefully I can prove myself.

“So far it was not worked out, but I think my time at Plymouth will help me a lot. I certainly feel a lot more confident now.

“I'm near my peak now, so hopefully the Norwich supporters will see the best of me soon. I've still got two and a half years left on my contract here and now it's time to push on.

“Obviously I'd love to play against West Ham, that goes without saying - but I don't pick the team. I'll just have to wait and see whether I'm in.”

With Jarrett playing in an anchor role in the centre of midfield, Tony Pulis' Plymouth side put together a four-match unbeaten run around Christmas to open up a little gap between themselves and the bottom three, and although a 3-0 home defeat against Leeds on Monday was another setback the Norwich man was a full of positive thoughts on his return.

“I have played for Tony before and he knows what I can do,” he said. “It went very well for me down there. I wouldn't say their style of play suited me completely, but as a loan player I had to get my head down and do a job for them. It was good to play regular football again and I really enjoyed myself.

“Out of seven games I played I think six were against top teams and despite that we went on a decent run. We beat Palace and Cardiff and drew against Watford and Wolves and although we lost to home to Leeds in my final game it was still a good little spell for the club.

“Having said all that I am pleased to be back here. I've missed the lads and I've missed the place a little bit as well. I am still very much a Norwich player.

“It's always good to be playing, especially over the Christmas period when there are a lot of games. My fitness has improved no end as a result and hopefully that will stand me in good stead now I am back.”

He added: “It was a win, win situation for me while I was away, because Norwich were also getting some good results. Now I am looking forward to being part of it again.

“I would say we have got a good chance of reaching the play-offs. The top two are flying and I would be surprised if they were caught, but it's really tight behind them, with a lot of teams in contention. We are only three points off the top six so the play-offs is definitely something we should be aiming for.”