Norwich City midfielder David Fox has admitted his career had hit a dead end after opting to join Championship Barnsley on a three-month loan deal.

Fox made his second appearance for the Reds' in the midweek 1-1 league draw against promotion-chasing Reading after a watching brief this season at Carrow Road. The 27-year-old had been turning out for City's development side after failing to force his way into Chris Hughton's senior plans.

'I just wanted to come and start enjoying my football again because it felt I had hit something of a brick wall the last few months. It is very frustrating and difficult. I just need something to freshen things up and I am delighted to have been given a new challenge,' he said.

'It happened very quickly. I was told there was interest on Friday. I had heard about a little bit of interest a few days before that, but I spoke to the manager and it was done quickly.

'He is very enthusiastic and very keen on doing the right things. All he has said to me is to go and enjoy my football. That is all I want to do - that feeling of enjoyment again. You miss it when you don't play for a while. It has been very, very frustrating. I just want to come in and contribute to the team.'

Fox was an integral part of the Norwich squad that rose from the depths of League One but has had limited opportunities since Hughton replaced Paul Lambert.

'I've had a great time at Norwich and loved every minute of it,' Fox told Barnsley's official site. 'Playing under Paul Lambert, especially, he brought the best out of me and hopefully the manager here can do the same.

'I've had some nice messages from the Norwich fans and I have nothing but admiration for them. They are unbelievable the way they turn up in such numbers from League One all the way through. It has been a special journey for me there but ultimately I am a footballer and when you don't get that buzz on a Saturday it is hugely frustrating.'

Fox is adamant rock-bottom Barnsley have enough quality to pull away from the Championship relegation zone and cites Norwich's successful campaign on their elevation from the third tier as proof anything is possible.

'If it was seven or eight games to go and you are in a scrap then it is different,' he said. 'The season has only just started. I was really impressed by what the manager had to say. He had some really positive things to say about how he wants the team to play and hopefully it will suit the way I want to play the game.We had a great season at this level for Norwich considering we had just come up from the division below. It wasn't as if we were the biggest club in the Championship and the one spending all the money. We had a really tight-knit group and a real good spirit. If you get a few wins and some momentum then you can move up this league.'