Michael Bailey City manager Glenn Roeder has denied he is on the lookout for a new goalkeeper, despite taking American stopper Matt Pickens on trial this week.

Michael Bailey

City manager Glenn Roeder has denied he is on the lookout for a new goalkeeper, despite taking American stopper Matt Pickens on trial this week.

After recent speculation linking Newcastle United's Steve Harper with a move to Carrow Road, plus news of City's latest triallist, it seemed Roeder had been looking to bring in reinforcements following the departure of Joe Lewis to Peterborough United.

But with David Marshall looking confident in goal and Matty Gilks back from injury, Roeder gave a clear answer as to whether he was trying to boost his goalkeeping ranks.

“No, why would you say that, when we've got one who is 23 years old and Scotland's number three,” said Roeder.

“I always take goalkeepers in. If I get a phone call, mainly you get the calls from agents, if they are goalkeepers I always take them. The lads are always wanting to practice their finishing and you can never have enough goalkeepers around.

“I've always given a trial - if you want, or a test - to goalkeepers because you can always use them, even if it's just to pick the ball out of the back of the net because they can't play.”

Roeder did admit Pickens had impressed him during his time at Colney and was tempted to keep him at the club for longer, but it may not be the right time.

“I'm undecided, and I'm only undecided because of Marshy,” said Roeder. “It's his shirt at the moment and with Matt being 25, he's at an age where he needs to be playing first team football rather than reserve team football.

“Matt is a very good goalkeeper. He's just got into the American squad and he's a great guy. We've had him about a week now and I can see why the American Soccer Federation has drafted him.

“He's training with us today, whether he's with us next week or not I'm not sure yet, but I know there are other clubs waiting in the wings to take him. I'd be pretty certain from what I've seen, without seeing him in a game, that he could handle Championship football.

“Watching him training yesterday, I would be tempted but we'll probably let him move on and hope he doesn't become the next Brad Friedel.”