Chris Martin needs to take a leaf out of new boy Ched Evans' book if he wants a recall into Norwich City's first team squad. Martin is one of a group of players who haven't featured in Glenn Roeder's last two squads since the 3-0 defeat at Plymouth a fortnight ago.

By CHRIS LAKEY

Chris Martin needs to take a leaf out of new boy Ched Evans' book if he wants a recall into Norwich City's first team squad.

Martin is one of a group of players who haven't featured in Glenn Roeder's last two squads since the 3-0 defeat at Plymouth a fortnight ago.

During that time the 19-year-old has seen Evans, a year his junior, come in on loan from Manchester City - and go straight into the first 16, making his debut as a sub at Blackpool on Tuesday.

“If I was Chris Martin it would make me think - another lad has come in of a similar age and he has found himself on the bench very quickly and on the pitch for 20, 25 minutes or so,” said Roeder.

“It certainly would make me sit up and take notice that I need to maybe get my head down, work harder and get back in the squad first of all.

“Chris Martin and Michael Spillane are two young players I have got a lot of time for and it will take months to get really inside their heads, in my opinion, to try and make them what I know they are going to have to become to be regular first team players.

“Both of those two players definitely have the ability to be first team players at Norwich on a regular basis, but only time will tell that they have the mentality to go with the ability.

“That is my job, but they have to meet me half way in what I am telling them is the truth. From my experience, there are two lads there that need to toughen up.”

Wales Under-21 international Evans is one of the brightest of many young hopefuls at the City of Manchester Stadium - but manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was happy to let him join City for a month to gain first team experience.

That spell could be extended to the end of the season now, with Eriksson hoping that Evans - and Ishmael Miller, who is at West Brom - can stake their claims for a Premier League starting place by playing in the division below.

Evans' only Manchester City appearance came, coincidentally, against the Canaries, in a Carling Cup tie in the north-west in September. His next one may depend on how he fares at Carrow Road - and Eriksson clearly knows his strong points.

“Ched is very strong, he is a natural goalscorer and a brave player,” said the Swede.

“He is a good talent and it is a good thing for him to go and play at Norwich. He is at a good club where he will have to work hard to get into the side and help improve their results.

“What I want to do with Miller and Ched Evans and players like that - who we know are big talents - is get them playing more club football until preparations start for next season.

“Then we will have a look at them during the pre-season and then take a decision on whether we will keep them, sell them or perhaps send them out on loan for another season. For me it is the perfect situation.”

It could be perfect for Roeder, too.

“I haven't seen anything that would put me off not having him here as long as possible,” he said. “It just creates more competition for places.

“If he (Evans) gets chances he will take more than he misses. He is quite deadly in training - give him a chance and he hits the back of the net. He has a lot of power, especially his right foot, for a young player. I am as certain as I can be that we will get plenty of use out of him.”