Chris Lakey Rossi Jarvis is hoping to play his first senior game for Glenn Roeder this weekend - and help save his Norwich City career.

Chris Lakey

Rossi Jarvis is hoping to play his first senior game for Glenn Roeder this weekend - and help save his Norwich City career.

The 19-year-old midfielder has found the door ajar following the suspensions of central midfielders Darel Russell and Mark Fotheringham for the visit of Barnsley.

Jarvis (pictured) is one of the few candidates to fill one of the vacancies, although little has been heard of the local youngster since the departure of Peter Grant in October.

Since then, City's teenagers have had to sit and watch as Roeder has brought in a clutch of young loan players to help drag City off the bottom of the Championship table.

However, Jarvis is convinced City's own home-grown stock can do the job - and is determined to prove the point if he is given the chance this weekend.

"There is not just myself, there are plenty of other young lads coming through the ranks who personally I think have got just as much ability as the boys who have come in on loan, so we will have to wait and see," said the Fakenham-born youngster. "It's very disappointing. I have played with a couple of them (loan players) with England so I am a bit disappointed about that, but it is not up to me who chooses the team, it is up to the gaffer and hopefully I can prove to him I am better than them.

"That's football for you, you have to rise to the challenge."

Jarvis' contract expires in the summer, although there is a one-year option, but he knows that only a good performance for the first team will help him earn an extension - otherwise, he could well be off.

"I would definitely like to stay and play here, but if I am not going to be playing, I definitely want to get out and start my career somewhere else," he said. "Preferably Norwich, but if he doesn't think I'm going to make the grade or he prefers other players, then unfortunately I will have to go elsewhere.

"If I do get the nod I have to have a cracking game."

That's just what he did back in September in just his third start for City, a Carling Cup tie at Manchester City, which City narrowly lost 1-0.

It was a fine performance - and he kept his shirt for the next four Championship games. Unfortunately, they included the final three matches of Grant's reign, the last of which, at QPR, was watched by Roeder.

"I wish he'd not watched the QPR game, which wasn't the best," said Jarvis, with a wry smile. "It was a bit difficult considering the position we were in. The confidence was down so it wasn't easy to come into a team like that and hopefully if I do get the chance it will be a lot easier.

"I have been waiting for my chance; unfortunately some of the boys are suspended, but hopefully I might get my chance to grab a shirt and keep it.

"The boys have been doing well. We have been on a cracking run at the moment so obviously I have had to wait for my chance, but hopefully I will get picked ahead of a couple of the other lads and show him what I can do.

"Wth the reserve games, we don't get many and when we do it's not against the best opposition so I have to perform in training and hopefully get the nod."