CHRIS LAKEY On-loan defender Martin Taylor says he will make a decision on his future “within days”.Canaries manager Glenn Roeder is keen to extend Taylor's loan deal, which expired after the weekend win over Sheffield United, before pursuing a permanent move for the Birmingham centre-back, who has been told he has no future at St Andrews by new manager Alex McLeish.

CHRIS LAKEY

On-loan defender Martin Taylor says he will make a decision on his future “within days”.

Canaries manager Glenn Roeder is keen to extend Taylor's loan deal, which expired after the weekend win over Sheffield United, before pursuing a permanent move for the Birmingham centre-back, who has been told he has no future at St Andrews by new manager Alex McLeish.

But Taylor, who has reportedly turned down a move to QPR after Birmingham accepted their £1m bid, says he has to consider his short-and long-term future before making a decision.

“I have got a couple of days to mull it over,” said Taylor, who is unlikely to be short of other Championship suitors. “I have got to think of both my short- and long-term really. I have been told by Birmingham that I am not going to feature there so I have got to decide what I am going to do now until January and then what I'm going to do in January, so I will take a bit of time to decide that and come up with the answer next week.”

Taylor admitted it wasn't a cut and dried decision and there were a number of considerations.

“It's just everything that comes with it - what I want to do, what will happen with my future. I need to talk to Birmingham again and see what happens there, I am obviously under contract there.

“But I have enjoyed my time here, I've got on really well with the lads, the fans are incredible, it's a really good club.”

It's sight unseen for McLeish, but Taylor said he was happy to know his situation.

“He just said that if I go back there I am not going to feature, I am going to be down the list of centre halves, so obviously if I want to play football I need to be looking elsewhere,” he said. “You want to know that - I don't want to be going back there saying no to a good team like Norwich and going back there and sitting in the reserves again, so I'm glad I know that now and can use that to decide what I am going to do.”

Taylor has played eight games for the Canaries and before kick-off on Saturday was presented with the player of the month award - and then scooped the man of the match honours. Roeder signed him within days of taking over at Norwich and his influence in the centre of the City defence has been immense.

“I'm really happy with it,” said Taylor. “I came to get games. I hadn't featured much in first team football this season. You don't forget what it's like, but it's great playing in front of 25,000 fans every week getting that back into your system and I'm just happy with my performances.

“Like the team I think they have slowly got better as the time has gone on and my fitness has improved.”

Roeder will hope to get Taylor's situation cleared up well before next Saturday's trip to Colchester United, but it would appear everything is in place to put a proposal on the Birmingham table.

“We are in talks with Martin and Birmingham as well and until we know anything definite I think it is probably best that we don't say anything and fingers crossed when we do have something to say it will be good news, because it will be very important to keep him at the club, very important,” said Roeder. “There is a potential in there maybe beyond a loan if Birmingham are in agreement to sign him permanently”

Taylor was one of five loan players - the maximum allowed - who featured in Roeder's starting line-up on Saturday, but while he wants to keep them all, Taylor's signature is the most urgent.

“The one that we need to try and find out quickest about is Martin and he showed again today - and (Jason) Shackell also played his part in it, but particularly Martin with his performance against (James) Beattie, who is the Championship leading scorer,” said Roeder.

“I thought he kept him superbly quiet. I can't think of Beattie having too much influence on the game, that wasn't because he wasn't trying hard, Beattie always gives 100pc, gives everything, it was more about Martin Taylor's performance and he was well supported by Shackell.”