Unsettled Smith could leave Norwich City, admits Lambert
Full-back Steven Smith could be set to leave Norwich City after failing to settle in Norfolk, manager Paul Lambert has revealed.
The 25-year-old summer signing from Glasgow Rangers has made seven first team appearances for the Canaries but his chances have been limited by ankle and hip injuries.
Now Lambert has admitted this week’s signing of left-back Marc Tierney from Colchester was necessary because of uncertainty over Smith’s future.
“The situation with Steven is he’s still getting over his injury – he’s doing really fine at the minute. But he’s finding it hard to settle here so I may have to look to move him on or let him go on loan or whatever the case may be. That’s why I’ve got to put it to bed,” said Lambert.
“Everybody’s character is different and that’s why I needed to get a left-back. I had to.”
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A return to Scotland is one possibility for Smith.
“It’s not the only option but I think it’s an option that’s there,” he said.
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Tierney will compete with Adam Drury for the left-back position that midfielder Simon Lappin has filled while Drury and Smith were injured.
“Simon has done brilliantly for me at left-back but it’s unfair on him, being a left midfielder,” said Lambert. “Adam has been huge for us and he missed a good two or three months.The injury to Andrew Surman was when it started to get difficult, so I’ve now brought Marc in and we have two left-backs, so they’ll battle away with each other to try to see who gets in the side.”
Tierney said he had settled in quickly at Colney with the help of former team-mates David Fox, from Colchester, and Grant Holt, with whom he played at Shrewsbury.
He said: “Training went brilliantly yesterday. I’ll be trying to put my own mark on things and I hope I can fight for my place in the team.
“The competition for places is really rife at the minute and that’s how we want it.
“If the second half of the season is as good as the first there are great things to come.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Surman (knee) and defender Elliott Ward (calf) are “not too far off” returning from injury, while midfielder Stephen Hughes, with just two appearances as substitute this season, is finally back in action after an ankle injury.
“He played in the game the other day and came through it OK but he’s still a wee bit away from getting back into the first team situation,” said Lambert.
