‘It is crucial to get his career back on track and be able to play’ - Farke explains City winger’s move

Daniel Farke hopes Matt Jarvis can get his career back on track during his loan spell at Walsall.

The 32-year-old has endured an injury ravaged couple of years at Carrow Road and hasn't made a first team appearance since May 2016.

Farke admitted he couldn't offer the former England international the game time he needs to get his match sharpness back and hopes he can make the most of his opporutnity with the League One side.

'We wish him all the best – we got the feeling Matt had a really difficult time here with injuries but he was always a great servant,' said Farke. 'He was always smiling around the place even though as a footballer all you want to do is play games and stand on the pitch. To be always working with physios, sports scientists and not training with the lads is tough.

'He has been back in shape the last weeks. But for someone out for nearly two and a half years it was going to be tough to be competitive with the wide players we have here now to be a topic for the starting line up.

'He asked us if we would allow us this wish for him to get a move and we felt his behaviour had been so good we allowed him this opportunity. It is crucial to get his career back on track and be able to play. The opportunity at Walsall is much bigger.'

Jarvis could be in action for the Saddlers this weekend when they take on Bolton in the FA Cup third round.

'It'll be fantastic for me to be back out there,' Jarvis told Walsall's official website. 'I haven't played for a while now so I am ready to get back out there on the pitch and have something to look forward to on the weekend.

'I'm going out there to do what I do best.

'I'm really looking forward to being able to train in the week and having something to focus on for the weekend.

'I can't wait to get back out there in the atmosphere on the pitch and get playing football again.

'You can see that the lads have got talent. They can pass the ball, they can move it well and I have come up here to play games and I'm just looking forward to it now.'

Walsall boss Dean Keates insists he would have no qualms about plunging the former Wolves and West Ham man into action.

'He (Jarvis) will be in the squad for the weekend,' Keates told the Express & Star. 'He has been training with us this week.

'He has had a bad couple of years injury-wise. But he has fully recovered and he's looked sharp in training.

'He now wants to play games. He's had a difficult couple of years. But he is fully fit now and has been training for the last two or three months.'

Keates is confident Jarvis, who will link up with former City skipper Russell Martin at the Bescot Stadium, can prove the ideal foil for top scorer Andy Cook and rediscover the form that made him such a force down the left flank whilst with Wolves and West Ham earlier in his career.

'He (Jarvis) is a winger who gets balls into the box and I think that'll suit us,' Keates continued. 'It will suit the forward players, especially Cookie who likes to get on the end of crosses.

'He will be a great addition to the squad.'

Liam Kinsella has also been impressed with Jarvis in training – with the midfielder looking forward to playing with the former Gillingham man.

'He came in on Monday to train with us and he looks very, very sharp,' Kinsella added. 'He will be a good boost to the side and hopefully he can bring something to the team and help us get the results.

'He has a lot of experience and I am looking forward to playing alongside him.'