Michael Bailey Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder is putting the final touches to his January shopping list - and one item can be ticked off already.The Canaries manager has admitted his transfer window plans rely heavily on who - and how many - of his current loan crop will return to their parent clubs next month.

Michael Bailey

Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder is putting the final touches to his January shopping list - and one item can be ticked off already.

The Canaries manager has admitted his transfer window plans rely heavily on who - and how many - of his current loan crop will return to their parent clubs next month.

And there was good news to be had after the City boss confirmed on-loan Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand will be at Carrow Road until the end of the season, despite fears he may be recalled to Stamford Bridge should Blues' star Wayne Bridge move to Premier League pastures new.

Bertrand's extended stay removes any potential hunt for left-back cover from Roeder's transfer to do list, however the hard work is still to come as Roeder waits for a similar decision from Fulham on young defender Elliott Omozusi.

With John Kennedy back at Celtic recovering from the knee injury that cut short his loan spell from Scotland, defenders remain the City manager's prime target.

“It will depend who definitely goes out,” said Roeder. “John has gone because they're going to take extra care with him after this last operation, where perhaps had he not had the bad knee. He'd probably been back in three or four weeks, but they are going to double that time at least.

“That's too long for us because that takes us potentially into March. So it's bye-bye to John and thanks very much for what you've done.

“We now obviously need to move on and scour the leagues - the Premier League and Championship, but particularly the Premier League - for a central defender that can replace him, and potentially two because we've only got Gary Doherty.

“Elliott has done a very good job there,” added the City manager. “I think he's played as well at centre-back as he has at right-back. He is giving a few inches away but I think people are starting to note we've kept most of our clean sheets when he's been in the centre of defence.

“So we are okay hopefully for these next couple of games, we'll have those two fit. But if I only brought one centre-back in, we would still be very light handed there. Let's find one first and then a second one wouldn't go amiss.”

Roeder's search for winter reinforcements will stretch to the opposite end of the pitch, with Reading striker Leroy Lita set to end his Norwich loan career before the turn of the year and Wigan striker Antoine Sibierski, who should make his return from injury against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, due back at the Latics in three weeks' time.

One potential striker target for Roeder has chosen the bright lights of the Premier League, after Arsenal youngster Jay Simpson closed in on a loan move to West Bromwich Albion for the remainder of the season.

“It's most likely Leroy will have to go back to Reading and if he goes, we need to try and find a striker of that ilk - and there's not that many around,” said Roeder.

“The young lad Simpson, a young boy with no experience whatsoever - a Premiership club has taken him on loan. That really gives you the idea that they are a rare breed of striker, that type. Big, strong, quick and with the power you need for the modern game.

“That doesn't mean that we won't find one, but if we do lose Leroy we will have to find a striker - and he won't be easy to replace.”

“I would've been interested in Jay, but it goes without saying a chance to play Premiership football or Championship football, whether we like it or not, it's no contest.

“Although you'd probably have said that here, you'd almost be guaranteed to play more games, I understand him wanting to go to the Premiership if he has that opportunity.”