Jimmy in the dark over loan extension

On-loan Chelsea starlet Jimmy Smith wants to extend his spell at Carrow Road, but remains in the dark as to whether he'll get his wish.

With the Stamford Bridge club set to lose a host of first team stars to the African Nations Cup in Ghana next month, the midfielder had been pencilled in to return to London in the New Year.

But after working his way into City manager Glenn Roeder's thoughts in recent weeks, the 20-year-old would prefer to stay at Norwich to ensure a greater chance of playing first team football.

Smith told the Canaries' official website: “I've not heard anything yet.

“I'm enjoying my time at Norwich at the moment and I'd love to stay longer. But I was told I was meant to be going back because of the African Nations Cup. I'll have to see what happens, but I've enjoyed my time here and if I was to stay I'd be really happy.”

Norwich will be sorely tempted to extend the deals of their loan quintet of Smith, Birmingham's Martin Taylor, Manchester City's Ched Evans, Matty Pattison of Newcastle United and Derby County's Mo Camara, after their arrival signalled an upturn in the club's fortunes and four wins in their last five matches.

But Smith doesn't believe the arrival of Avram Grant in replacing Jose Mourinho as manager at Stamford Bridge has made any difference to where he'll playing his football next year.

“As far as I've been told I don't think so,” he added. “The plan was for me and a couple of others to be coming back over that period of time but, like I said, we'll just have to wait and see. But I'm not bothered where I go, I just want to be playing football.”

The youngster was ruled out of the season's early exchanges after suffering ankle ligament damage during Norwich's preseason tour of Holland, but since returning to full fitness at the end of October Smith has forced his way into Roeder's plans, and the Chelsea reserve captain started it City's 1-0 win over Sheffield United last Saturday.

“I'm glad to have my full fitness back now and I know I've just got to keep working hard in training to impress the gaffer and be playing every week.

“It's hard. You don't really enjoy it when you're on the touchline watching the game. It's really frustrating for me as a player because I'm the sort of person who doesn't like to be on the touchline watching. I always want to be involved. But it's good to be back now.”

Having played on the right side of midfield against the Blades, Smith has yet to get a run in his chosen position in central midfield with Darel Russell, Mark Fotheringham and Matty Pattison ahead of the Londoner.

“That's what I prefer really, to be in the middle. I feel that my game is about creating, not always about being wide and trying to take someone on.

“But I've done it for the team and that's what comes first really. I've enjoyed being there, and I'll play anywhere if it means I'm in the starting 11. But my main position is in the centre of midfield and hopefully if I can impress the gaffer in training I might get my chance in the centre of midfield one day.”