Bryan Gunn has today secured his first signing as Norwich City manager in the shape of Sheffield United's Australian international midfielder David Carney, who joins the Canaries on loan for the rest of the season.

Bryan Gunn has today secured his first signing as Norwich City manager in the shape of Sheffield United's Australian international midfielder David Carney, who joins the Canaries on loan for the rest of the season.

Commenting on the arrival, Gunn told canaries.co.uk: "I am delighted to welcome David as my first signing. We've been working very hard behind the scenes and putting several phone calls into different clubs and this is the first one with a positive result. He is an Australian international and I feel he will add something very positive to the squad we already have.

"He has a tremendous left foot which I hope he can utilise in our games which we have coming up and he's a confident goalscorer who is technically gifted. He wants to come here, he hasn't featured at Sheffield United and with the World Cup coming up in 2010, he wants to have the chance to show what he can do so he has an opportunity of a place in the Australian squad.

He continued: "Ian Crook worked with him in Sydney, where David played 21 games and scored six times. Ian gave a very high recommendation of David and his capabilities, and was happy to recommend him to us. I know there were other clubs interested in him, both in this country and in Europe, and I really hope he is able to use his abilities to help us in the battle we have ahead of us."

On joining the Canaries, Carney told the club's official website: "I'm delighted to be joining a club such as Norwich - the club is obviously in a position they shouldn't be and hopefully I can do something to help move the team up the table.

"I'm looking forward to working with Ian Crook again and can't wait to get started."

The 25-year-old began his career as a trainee with Everton before moving to Oldham Athletic in 2003. He had short spells with Halifax Town and Scottish side Hamilton Academicals before returning to his homeland in 2005 to play for Sydney FC.

The winger will renew his acquaintance with City's first team coach Ian Crook with both of them having helped Sydney to the Australian Hyundai A-League Grand Final in 2005-06. He is a regular Australian international after making his debut for the Socceroos in February 2006 against Bahrain. He currently has 17 caps and one goal, that being a 25-yard stunner at Craven Cottage against Nigeria in November 2007.

He was a member of the 2007 Asian Cup squad that faced the likes of Argentina and represented his country in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.

He arrived at Bramall Lane on a three-year deal in August 2007 and has made a total of 26 appearances for Sheffield United in all competitions, scoring three goals, including the only goal in last year's third round FA Cup victory against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Carney is available to go straight into City's squad for the trip to Doncaster on Friday evening. He has been allocated shirt number 11.