Grounds for optimism

Last updated : 02 January 2009 By Rick Lamb
Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has revealed his ideal defensive signing in the January transfer window would be Middlesbrough's Jonathan Grounds.

Grounds, 20, was on loan at Carrow Road earlier in the season but recalled because of injuries at the Riverside. He has featured on the bench in recent weeks, but Roeder would ideally like to bring the centre half back to Norfolk because of his size.

Fellow Boro man Matthew Bates, whose knee injury prematurely ended a loan spell with Norwich last season, featured against Manchester United on Monday so would appear to be beyond the reaches of a Championship loan.