Chris Lakey Canaries first team coach Ian Crook says fans shouldn't jump to conclusions over the futures of a trio of senior players who were noticeable by their absence for last night's 4-0 friendly win over local non-league side Wroxham.

Chris Lakey

Canaries first team coach Ian Crook says fans shouldn't jump to conclusions over the futures of a trio of senior players who were noticeable by their absence for last night's 4-0 friendly win over local non-league side Wroxham.

City have organised a series of friendlies in recent weeks to ensure first team fringe players are kept ticking over and maintain match fitness, but while there were valuable run-outs for Adam Drury, Cody McDonald and Adrian Leijer, there were no places in the squad for Matty Pattison, Mark Fotheringham and Jamie Cureton, all of whom appear to have fallen out of favour with the City hierarchy.

However, Crook said he had spoken to all three players and agreed that it would be better for some of the youngsters to face the Yachtsmen.

“Certainly not intending to be disrespectful to the opposition but it is tough for them to get up for games, boys like Fozzy and Jamie and that,” said Crook.

“We just felt we would get more out of it with the youth team boys than with using those three.

“And they were fine, they worked hard today in training and we will have a game in training on Wednesday that they will get more out of as individuals.

“People are always going to speculate and put two and two together and come up with 105 - at the end of it we have nothing to hide.

“I spoke to Fozzy, Patto and to Jamie about the benefits and the negatives and we decided individually and collectively it was better that we give them a run on Wednesday when we have 11 on 11.

“People can speculate and that's something you can't stop.

“We have all gone through periods of not being involved and I have got to be honest, their attitudes have been first class in anything they have been involved with me in.”

The emergency transfer loan window closes on Thursday, by which time it's feasible that a deal could be done which would see one or more leave the club.

Pattison hasn't featured in a first team squad since the end of January, Fotheringham has been sidelined since being stripped of the captaincy after a public show of dissent when he was subbed in a game against Coventry more than three weeks ago - when Cureton was also last seen in a first team strip on his 100th City appearance.

Even when he had holes to fill for last weekend's trip to Birmingham, Gunn opted to bring back Simon Lappin, who hasn't played senior football of any sort since the end of last season, and put two members of the club's FA Youth Cup side on the bench.

Pattison was Roeder's first permanent signing, in January last year, having arrived on loan from Newcastle. His recent absence has been noted by a number of clubs, with Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as League One promotion hopefuls Peterborough, Leeds and Oldham, rumoured to be interested.

Gunn won't consider a move to Plymouth but, if the deal is right for City, Pattison is free to go out on loan.

Fotheringham is out of contract this summer and almost certain to leave Carrow Road, where his relationship with some sections of the home support has deteriorated to the extent that he and Gunn agreed it would be best if he didn't play in the game at QPR on March 3.

Cureton, like Fotheringham, was brought to Carrow Road by Peter Grant, but he has scored just twice for City this season and was loaned out to relegation rivals Barnsley by previous boss Glenn Roeder, scoring twice in eight starts.

While their stars may be on the wane, the shining light that is Cody McDonald continues to deliver goals for Gunn.

McDonald had already gone close - and produced a turn out of the Ronaldo book of football tricks - before heading City in front two minutes before the break.

Half-time sub Johnbull Omoregie made it two three minutes after the interval before McDonald produced a lovely touch to slide the ball home on 62 minutes - and was immediately substituted, Crook and Gunn obviously having seen enough of their exciting new talent.

His replacement, Nick Davey, wrapped it up nine minutes before the end of the game after good work by impressive young right-back George Francomb.

“The result is irrelevant really, it's just nice to see boys get 90 minutes under their belts.”

t Norwich: Nelson, Francomb, Drury (Clarke 66), Stephens, Leijer, Lathrope (Omoregie HT), Smith, Adeyemi, Kelly (Brindley 78), McDonald (Davey 62), Daley. Sub not used: Matthews.

t Wroxham squad: Duncan McAnally, Danny Self, Shaun Howes, Graham Challen, Josh Carus, Matt Halliday, Danny White, Gavin Lemmon, Paul Cook, Stephen Harley, Gary Gilmore, Gavin Pauling, Jacob McCabe, Damon Bensley, Sam Goff, Phil Smith, Leighton Miller.