Ryan Jarvis has been told to be more aggressive as new boss Peter Grant tries to get the best out of a player once considered one of the country's rising young stars.

By CHRIS LAKEY

Ryan Jarvis has been told to be more aggressive as new boss Peter Grant tries to get the best out of a player once considered one of the country's rising young stars.

Jarvis, 20, is something of a Norwich City enigma: he is the youngest player in the club's history, he has excelled at England youth level, he even lit up the Premiership season with a superb goal against Liverpool. But since his historic debut back three and a half years ago he has been unable to hold down a regular first team place.

Now he finds himself having to impress a new manager - and while Peter Grant says the Fakenham youngster has work to do, he believes there is something to work on.

“I've heard so many things, but I can only judge on what I see,” said Grant, who saw him in action for the first time in midweek when he gave him a starting role in the Carling Cup tie at Port Vale.

“He has got to be more aggressive in his play - the way he plays and the style he has got it looks as if he can't be bothered. I know that's not the case with the boy, it's just his style, the way he plays.

“But he has got to have a lot more game knowledge, positional knowledge. He's got to understand that. When he has the ball at his feet he has got good talent, but we have got to nurture that and see where we can get the best out of him.

“Sometimes it's his body language - you don't appreciate his ability as much.

“I want to work with him and the good thing is he has the talent to work with, but I want to demand more of him.

“He is not a young boy. If he is in the first team he will be treated like a first team player, that's the way they have to perform. If they don't perform they won't get a chance.”

Jarvis began the Vale game on the left side of a three-man attack, in place of the injured Darren Huckerby, and then, when Robert Eagle came on for Youssef Safri after just 35 minutes, moved just behind striker Robert Earnshaw.

“It was difficult for him the other night because he was playing in Hucks' role, which takes a bit of getting used to,” added Grant.

“I don't know if he has played there before but I felt he had the ability to play there. Then we moved him in behind and if he moves in behind we have to make sure that doesn't become a lazy role, which some people like. I think that hole man, the one who plays behind, could be a lazy role - not in my team it's not. He will learn that very quickly that's for sure.

“There is no doubt he has the talent to be a top player, but he has got to have everything else to go with it.”