Cup runs limit loan options for Grant

Peter Grant is on the hunt for losers - Carling Cup losers - to help fill the gaps in his squad. Grant's inquiries had to wait until this week's ties were completed, but with relatively few big names going out of the competition, returns calls from managers have been less the rewarding.

Peter Grant is on the hunt for losers - Carling Cup losers - to help fill the gaps in his squad.

Grant's inquiries had to wait until this week's ties were completed, but with relatively few big names going out of the competition, returns calls from managers have been less the rewarding.

"Unfortunately for us most of the big guns went through, apart from Manchester United," said the Norwich manager. "We were hoping there would be a couple of upsets so they would allow some of their boys out, but it wasn't to be.

"We have a few phone calls, we are waiting on people getting back to us and it is up to them."

Grant is hoping the managers he has been in contact with will now take another look at their squads to see who they can afford to release on short-term deals.

"Even if all the boys were fully fit I'm looking to add to the group, so now it is just a matter of where they assess where their boys are going to be," he said.

The flip side is that City are now out of the Carling Cup, meaning Grant doesn't have to worry about bringing in a player who might be cup tied.

"I don't need to chop and change so it gives me an option because I can bring somebody in who can actually play in them all now," he said. "Hopefully we will get a few phone calls back, but it is in the hands of others, not in my hands."