Loan midfielder Graham Dorrans is proving himself to be a key player for Norwich City manager Alex Neil.

The 27-year-old Scotland international has started five of his seven matches since joining City on loan from West Brom in February.

That initial one-month loan deal is due to expire on Sunday, after Saturday's clash with Nottingham Forest at Carrow Road, although the Canaries expect to extend the deal without any issues.

Neil admits Dorrans has surprised him since coming in though, saying: 'I think when you sign a player you always have a picture of how you see them playing and then when you get them in sometimes that can be altered, and I think Graham's all-round game is probably more accomplished than what I thought it first it was because I saw him in a more advanced role when I first signed him.

'But I think looking at him at the moment, looking at his strengths just now, I think dropping into that area and picking up the ball and getting it moving and getting the boys higher up the pitch, is certainly a strength that we can use.'

It is in that deeper role that Dorrans has impressed his countryman, with Neil adding: 'Technically he's very good, he can see a forward pass. A lot of the time he starts off our attacks by dropping into that deeper role and sort of being the quarterback to go and start the plays. So I've been really pleased with him.'

The Canaries will need to extend Dorrans' loan deal before the loan deadline on Thursday, March 26, so that it will incorporate a potential Championship play-off final on Monday, May 25.

'Hopefully we should get it until the end of the season and then we'll see what happens from there,' Neil said.

Follow David Freezer on Twitter @davefreezer