Talks are expected to begin with on-loan defender Martin Taylor in the next week as Glenn Roeder attempts to keep the giant defender at Carrow Road.

By CHRIS LAKEY

Talks are expected to begin with on-loan defender Martin Taylor in the next week as Glenn Roeder attempts to keep the giant defender at Carrow Road.

Taylor's loan spell ends after the home game against Sheffield United on December 8, but Roeder is keen to persuade the 29-year-old, and his club, to extend it.

“We have not discussed his situation,” said Roeder. “Obviously Birmingham have got their own problems with a change of manager, Steve Bruce leaving and Eric Black still there at the moment.

“I will put a call in to Eric Black probably later in the week to see what his thoughts are”

Taylor - the first of Roeder's four loan signings - has been an impressive performer in the centre of City's defence, with the added advantage of improving the player alongside him, skipper Jason Shackell.

“I think not only does he help the whole team, in particular he helps Shackell,” said Roeder.

“He gives him the confidence just to concentrate on his own game and not be worrying about what his other centre back is doing, so he can just focus on himself.”

Roeder has already challenged Shackell to realise his ambitions, and says once the 24-year-old gets his own game into top gear, the rest if a bonus - and it doesn't necessarily mean being the loudest on the pitch.

“He has been made the captain this year for the first time, a big responsibility for him, especially the way the season has gone so far, and I have told him from my own experience that the first place that any player, including the captain, must look at is his own performance,” said the City manager.

“That is what Shacks must do, make sure he gets his own performance right, anything after that is a bonus in terms of being able to talk to the rest of the players and organise.

“There have been many captains that lead purely by example and are not good talkers, but they play so consistently well that it gives the others a lift.

“I know Jonny Wilkinson fairly well because he was with Newcastle Falcons who use Newcastle's training ground and they talk about the Jonny Wilkinson effect now. He doesn't talk, he is not a good talker, he is really quiet and he's an unbelievably modest person, with no ego, and I like that person. That is the ultimate for me, a world class sportsman like Jonny Wilkinson who has no ego and is very modest.

“He knows he is good, he knows he is the best in the world, but he doesn't go bragging about it, but when he plays for England, when he plays for Newcastle, the results and performances just get better and better because he is on the field.

“What I am trying to say with Shackell is that he must make sure his performances are of a first class nature week in week out as the captain and anything else he can bring in terms of using his voice and helping others is a bonus.

“I think Martin Taylor helps to bring the best out in him.”