CHRIS LAKEY On-loan keeper Jamie Ashdown has left the door open for a permanent move to Carrow Road as manager Peter Grant wrestles with a selection dilemma ahead of this weekend's trip to Stoke.

CHRIS LAKEY

On-loan keeper Jamie Ashdown has left the door open for a permanent move to Carrow Road as manager Peter Grant wrestles with a selection dilemma ahead of this weekend's trip to Stoke.

Ashdown, at Norwich for a month from Portsmouth where he has fallen down the pecking, replaced the axed Paul Gallacher for last weekend's home win over Cardiff.

Although he kept a clean sheet he didn't altogether convince Grant and, having been forced to miss the Carling Cup trip to Port Vale in midweek, could find himself playing second fiddle again, with Gallacher laying major claims to an immediate return to Championship action.

The Scot pulled off a string of good saves, and then saved the first two spot-kicks in the penalty shoot-out before Vale prevailed 3-2.

“He was terrific,” said Grant. “I was just disappointed he couldn't get the saves that would make us win the game, because he deserved that for the way he reacted to being left out at the weekend.

“He's had one really good save in the game. I don't think he had much to do other than that. But as I say, he knows there's a challenge in there and a few of the boys know there's a challenge now.”

That challenge includes Ashdown, frustrated at missing out on a rare start because of a contractual agreement with Pompey.

“I would like to play every game, just to get games under my belt and get some more match fitness,” said Ashdown, who says he wouldn't rule out a permanent switch.

“At the moment I just want to get some games. I've got to get back to the basics of training and playing. I've got a contract for another year-and-a-half, so that's where I am. “But it would be nice to play week-in week-out.”