Millers loan spell gives Hendo chance to shine

Canaries striker Ian Henderson is set to make his first senior appearance for almost four months this weekend after signing an initial one-month loan deal with League One side Rotherham.

The 21-year-old has been sent north to help Peter Grant decide whether or not to offer him an extension to a contract which expires at the end of the season.

But for Henderson, it's clearly a case of showcasing his talents to Grant, rather than to other clubs.

"I am obviously going to be in the shop window - but first and foremost it is for Norwich City that I am in the shop window," said Henderson. "I am still contracted here until the end of the end of the summer and I am going to see the contract out.

"It is going to be good to get first- team football. I have been out for three months and I just need to get my match fitness up.

"It is like any footballer, you just want a sequence of games where you can start scoring goals and move on."

Henderson was brought up at play up front but was used predominantly on the right flank by previous boss Nigel Worthington and since suffering a knee ligament injury - ironically against Rotherham in the Carling Cup in September - he has had just two reserve team games to showcase his talents to Grant.

But now he has the opportunity to play in his preferred position in attack - a role which appears to suit all parties involved, with Millers boss Alan Knill happy to land someone to replace Watford-bound striker Will Hoskins.

"He (Henderson) has got an option come the summer time so whatever way it is going to be I have got to make sure I see him," said Grant.

"I haven't seen enough of him. The only time I have seen him he was playing right side. I have never really seen him as a striker apart from the two reserve games, at Colchester and the other evening (against Spurs).

"It is a great opportunity for me to see him in that sort of set-up getting judged as a striker instead of a right-sided player. It is easier to do that than it is to be involved in an 18-man squad here. He has been on the periphery of things.

"If he goes there, scores some goals, lets me see if he is going to be an improvement on the group - also, it is putting him in the shop window as well. There is a double-edged sword to it, but if I don't keep him on I want people to know what abilities he has got. Hopefully he does well and comes back and becomes an asset to Norwich City."

There will be at least one familiar face at Millmoor, Scott Wiseman, with whom Henderson has played for England Under-20s - and one he met all too briefly during City's cup match there, defender Michael Keane, whose tackle ended Henderson's game.

"I don't know his name. I did get injured there but that is in the past now," said Henderson. "I am going to look to the future and hopefully go there and score some goals.

"I have not been on loan before - it is going to be weird occasion for myself but I am ready to take it. It is going to be different, but I am ready for the challenge.

"The manager said I would be playing football and I would be playing as a striker. That's where I feel most comfortable."