David Cuffley City boss Glenn Roeder has confirmed that he did try to bring Manchester City striker Ched Evans back to Carrow Road on loan - and has still not given up all hope of doing so.

David Cuffley

City boss Glenn Roeder has confirmed that he did try to bring Manchester City striker Ched Evans back to Carrow Road on loan - and has still not given up all hope of doing so.

The 19-year-old, currently on World Cup duty with Wales, scored 10 goals to help keep the Canaries in the Championship last season.

Back at his own club, he has made his Premier League debut this season and featured in the Blues' UEFA Cup campaign.

But Roeder said he had asked manager Mark Hughes if there was a chance of Evans returning to Norwich.

“I asked the question and was politely told absolutely no,” he said. “There is evidently a chance he might go out as an emergency loan sometime during the year. All I can say is I've asked to be kept informed.

“I would love the opportunity to have him back here but I fully understand Mark Hughes wanting to keep him with him. No doubt there's a little bit of the Welsh connection in that.”

The takeover of Manchester City by an Arab billionaire and the arrival of £60m of attacking talent - including the British record £32.4m capture of Robinho from Real Madrid - may limit Evans' first team chances and make him a potential loan capture.

“Ched is going to be working with some of the best players in the world that Manchester City can now afford to bring to the club. But the question was asked,” said Roeder.

Whether the Canaries could afford to take Evans on again is debatable given the decision by directors Andrew and Sharon Turner to resign, leaving a £1.5m hole in the budget for the season.

But Evans, with the Wales squad as they prepare for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan at the Millennium Stadium, admits Hughes' expensive new recruits will make it harder for him to secure a first-team place.

He said: “I expect it now will be hard for me back at my club. City have spent huge money on Robinho, they've spent £20million on Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips is back. That's a hell of a lot of attacking quality to contend with.

“But I just have to keep playing and working hard, scoring, and hoping. There's nothing you can do about it really, just keep working and trying.

“I suppose it is a little frustrating, I have worked hard for my chance and then something like this happens. That's football.

“I will just have to see how it goes when I get back. To see whether I am still in the squad, if I am I will be pleased with that.

“Maybe some time in the future if I am not involved then it could be another loan, I suppose. I need to be playing games.”