CHRIS LAKEY Jimmy Smith says he wants to see out the season at Carrow Road - but would love to do it playing a central midfield role.The on-loan Chelsea youngster has been deployed on the right side of midfield and is itching to get a chance in his favoured role - but says he's prepared to earn his place.

CHRIS LAKEY

Jimmy Smith says he wants to see out the season at Carrow Road - but would love to do it playing a central midfield role.

The on-loan Chelsea youngster has been deployed on the right side of midfield and is itching to get a chance in his favoured role - but says he's prepared to earn his place.

"I would like to play centre midfield and it is down to me to impress the gaffer in training and hopefully on a Saturday he will put me there," said Smith yesterday.

"At the moment I'm doing a job on the right side and I know I am doing that for the team and I am happy to do that."

Smith plays the final game of a loan spell that was interrupted almost as soon as it started when the 20-year-old suffered ankle ligament damage during the pre-season tour of Holland.

He made his first start on October 8 - at QPR, the club he spent time with last season - in what proved to be Peter Grant's last match in charge.

However, he has started the last two games under Roeder - and having tasted life in front of 25,000-strong home crowds, is keen to make it a habit by extending his loan deal.

That all depends on how Chelsea feel about losing him - especially as they have injuries piling up and face losing players to the African Cup of Nations next month.

"Apparently they still want me to come back because of the African Nations Cup and the new manager wants to see me, but I think things may be sorted out quite soon so we will see what happens," he said.

"I am not sure but I have enjoyed my time here and I would definitely like to stay. I have been getting into the starting XI recently.

"It is a big club and we're getting our form back now and pushing up the table so I'd love to stay here.

"I was disappointed at the beginning when I fractured my foot, but I am back now and I'm strong and I just want to prove myself really - keep working hard in training and try to impress the gaffer because that's all I want to do, play football. So if I do that hopefully I will be playing week in, week out."

The alternative for Smith would appear to be reserve team football at Chelsea, waiting for the call to cover first team absentees. And it's one he doesn't fancy at all.

"That is the whole point," he said.

"I don't want to be going back and playing in the reserves. I have been on loan twice now, last year at QPR and this year at Norwich, and I just want to be playing in front of big crowds like at Carrow Road.

"You can't ask any more - 25,000 every week.With good loyal fans like that you just want to be playing every week."