Paul Lambert has signed Rob Edwards from Blackpool in time for Edwards to step in straight away against Doncaster Rovers tomorrow night (7:45).
Edwards is signed on an emergency loan as cover for Leon Barnett, out for the rest of the season after pulling a hamstring in the home win against Reading earlier this month.
Signed until May 24th, it will mean Edwards will be available for any play off games if City are in that position at the end of the regular season.
Born in Telford, Shropshire on Chritmas Day in 1982, the 28 year old is 6ft tall and 11st 6lbs. The ideal build for a centre half who began his career as a trainee at Aston Villa.
Loan spells at Crystal Palace and Derby will have given Edwards at taste of football at Championship level. Four years at Wolves then followed before Blackpool bought him in August 2008.
Edwards will be no stranger to Carrow Road, but this time he will have the crowd for him rather than against; especially while with Wolves.
Norwich manager, Paul Lambert had this to say, as reported in the Norwich Advertiser.
“With the injury to Leon severe we’ve brought in Rob to the squad,” said Lambert. “He’s got experience and has seen it and done it with Blackpool last year and he’ll be a big asset in the 14 games remaining this season.”
Asked for his thoughts, Edwards said he was: “Delighted and hopefully get cracking as soon as I can and to be back involved and hopefully get some first team action and help the boys in anyway I can.
“Every footballer wants to play at the end of the day and the manager has brought me in after a few injuries to the squad. There’s already two centre-halves Zak (Whitbread) and Elliott (Ward) who did really well at the weekend and hopefully I can push them and if I get my chance I can give it a real go.”
Edwards is sure to get the shout. Paul Lambert rarely dips into the loan market, but he does so prudently, and makes the players earn their keep. Beside, both Zak Whitbread and Elliot Ward favour the left, and Barnett was a right-sided player.