Blues left-back could be next target

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries boss Glenn Roeder has been linked with a loan move for a second Birmingham City defender.

Roeder, who made central defender Martin Taylor his first City signing last week, is said to be interested in left back Mat Sadler.

The new manager has admitted that the left back position is a concern, with Adam Drury's absence with knee ligament problems currently being covered by midfielder Simon Lappin, which leaves Roeder short of options in an already thin-looking squad.

According to reports in Birmingham, Norwich would face competition from Wolves and Watford, who have also inquired about Sadler, who has found himself involved in an intriguing position at St Andrews involving Franck Queudrue.

The Frenchman missed Birmingham's defeat at Everton last Saturday because of fitness issues and manager Steve Bruce has yet to decide whether he will return for this weekend's Midlands derby against Aston Villa. And while Rafael Schmitz took over the job last weekend, Bruce admitted Sadler gave him another option.

“Who is knocking on the door also? Sadler. He is in the equation as well,” Bruce told the Birmingham Mail. “He's a Birmingham lad - and he knows what this derby game in particular is all about.”

Inclusion in a Premier League line-up won't help City's - or anyone else's - chances of luring him to the Championship, particularly to a team struggling at the bottom of the table, but Roeder will be hoping ex-Canaries defender Bruce will help his old club out for a second time.

Sadler is the man who inadvertently helped the Canaries to their first win under Peter Grant last October, heading into his own net under pressure from Jason Shackell as City claimed a 1-0 win at St Andrews.

The 22-year-old played 36 games for the Blues last season as he helped them back into the top flight and signed a a new three-year contract in the summer which ties him to St Andrew until 2010.