Paul Warne went the extra mile to ensure Rotherham would beat their rivals to the loan signing of in-demand Norwich City striker Carlton Morris.

The Pink Un: Rotherham boss Paul Warne couldn't prevent his team being beaten twice by Norwich City this season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesRotherham boss Paul Warne couldn't prevent his team being beaten twice by Norwich City this season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: Paul Chesterton)

Originally from Norfolk and a Canaries fan at heart, Warne has maintained contact with City loans manager Neil Adams and sporting director Stuart Webber in the hope he could sign Morris.

"It's a good club and they're in a really good position but we genuinely appreciate them allowing us to loan their player before the dust has settled on their promotion," he said after securing the season-long loan.

"I'm really pleased. We need to pump up our strike force and Carlton is someone that I have wanted to sign. I've been speaking to him for a while now and I went down to sit with Norwich last week and explained what it is that I like about him, how we play and that I thought he would fit in.

"I'd like to thank Norwich for their help, from Daniel Farke through to everyone that helped facilitate the loan. We're really grateful for the fact that they were happy to do it this early because sometimes teams want to get the lads back in pre-season, see where they're at and then let you know. They were really happy to sort it early for us."

Morris missed all of this season through injury but was a regular in League One with Shrewsbury during 2017-18, having had an eight-game Championship stint at Rotherham the previous season.

Warne added that "around 15 other clubs" had enquired about the 23-year-old's availability but his previous spell in South Yorkshire and defender Sean Raggett's loan with the Millers last season, which was ruined by injury, helped seal the deal.

The former Diss and Wroxham forward, speaking to his League One club's website, continued: "Stuart Webber played a massive part in allowing us to take him. We've had a relationship with Neil Adams for years now because we've had Carlton and Sean Raggett with us previously.

"He knows how we work and how we look after the players here, so he was happy for him to come back and he was a massive help to us. Then obviously the manager would have had a say on Carlton coming here and I text him (Farke) to congratulate him on taking Norwich to the Premier League and wished him all the best for the season."

MORE: Morris joins Rotherham on loan and signs new Canaries contract

Morris joined Rotherham on loan on the final day of the 2017 January transfer window but a hamstring injury prevented him from playing until March and he didn't find the back of the net during his eight games.

Having scored 10 in 53 games during his loan at Shrewsbury however, Warne is confident Millers fans will see a very different player this time.

"When he came before I was desperate to sign him then," he continued. "He was never really fully fit, so I don't think the Rotherham fans saw the best of him in his first spell, but he was unbelievable the following season for Shrewsbury.

"He didn't play as much football as he would have liked last year but he played well in a really hard-working Shrews team with Paul Hurst. Hursty loves him as well and I spoke to him about Carlton.

"He has improved and he's two years on from when we had him. The difference between being a 28-year-old footballer and one at 30 isn't a great deal, but when you're in your early 20s it makes a massive difference.

"Unfortunately, he got injured in the final against us and didn't get back to fitness until near the end of the season.

"He is absolutely desperate to get playing again and he is doing all the close season programme in keeping with the rest of our lads and he will come back in all guns blazing."