Lisbie loaned in time for weekend clash

Last updated : 09 September 2005 By Rick Lamb
Nigel Worthington's search for an international striker has ended with the arrival of Hackney born Jamaican international Kevin Lisbie from Charlton Athletic.

Twenty six-year-old Lisbie has been at the Valley for his entire career except for month long loan spells at Gillingham, Reading and Queens Park Rangers. The deal which brings him to Carrow Road is for an initial month with a view to extending the deal.

Lisbie's arrival boosts Worthington's striking options in the absence for a month or more of Leon McKenzie and of Peter Thorne, who is recovering from a knee operation. The striker, who scored a memorable hat-trick against Liverpool two years ago, is expected to line up alongside Dean Ashton for Saturday's televised clash with managerless Plymouth.

Lisbie has scored 19 goals for the Addicks in a career interrupted by injury. He missed the middle part of last season and much of the end of the previous term through injury but signed a new three-year contract in the summer of 2004. He fits the bill to partner Ashton as a quick player who is relatively small at just five foot eight. He will be keen to impress during his loan spell as he has been pushed down the pecking order At Charlton by the arrival of Darren Bent in a squad already featuring the likes of Shaun Bartlett and Jonatan Johansson and which plays with only one striker.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has proved willing to do business with the Canaries in recent months. Lisbie follows Graham Stuart, who made the switch in January, and might not have joined had Francis Jeffers not received a late offer from Scottish Champions Rangers last week.