CHRIS LAKEY Danny Mills could have become the third ex-City player to have returned to Carrow Road in the summer after Canaries boss Peter Grant admitted an interest in the former England defender.

CHRIS LAKEY

Danny Mills could have become the third ex-City player to have returned to Carrow Road in the summer after Canaries boss Peter Grant admitted an interest in the former England defender.

Mills has fallen out of favour with Sven-Goran Eriksson and will play against City for another of his former clubs, Charlton, who he has joined on a four-month loan deal.

The 30-year-old could have bolstered Grant's central defensive options - but finances and “circumstances” meant the City boss had to end his interest.

“Financially it was always going to be very difficult,” he said.

“I am sure Danny would have been a big asset for us in different areas as well, but at the time, bringing Curo (Jamie Cureton) and Darel (Russell) back as well I wasn't willing to keep going down that road of getting people in who had been here before.

“Not necessarily because I don't agree with that - I think sometimes that can be a good thing because they know what the expectation is.

“There were a few other issues which I felt at the time had to be addressed and obviously Charlton moved quickly and got Danny, but it definitely wasn't down to his ability that I didn't want him here, it was just the circumstances at the time.”

Norwich-born Mills made 66 appearances for City - some of them alongside Grant - after coming through the ranks, but the City boss believes he was sold on the cheap when he joined Charlton in 1998 for £250,000.

“I know people used to give Danny a bit of stick, but I think that happens sometimes when you come through the ranks,” said Grant.

“I thought he did ever so well here and I thought they let him go very cheaply then, because he could play different positions, he was equally good with either foot, he was a young man who had a different personality which people sometimes like.

““He has done tremendously well and I think he is a very, very good signing for Charlton.

“They lost Luke Young and to get someone in of Danny's experience and ability is a fantastic coup for them.”