Norwich City boss Paul Lambert reveals transfer window frustrations Paddy Davitt

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Norwich defender Marc Tierney returned to training on Thursday after missing City's festive period with a groin injury. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd. ©Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +44814 482222

Norwich City boss Paul Lambert admitted on Friday morning the Canaries are no nearer bolstering his squad in the January transfer window.

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The City chief has again been linked this week with raids on the Championship with Brighton’s Liam Bridcutt joining the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Chris Gunter and Blackpool’s Matt Phillips on his reported wish list. Lambert sanctioned George Francomb’s loan exit to SPL club Hibernian and Oli Johnson’s release over the past few days, but questions on progress in the opposite direction met with a firm response.

“None, none. I was hopeful (at the start of the window) but we are not making inroads, that is for sure,” said Lambert at his pre-match briefing ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to West Brom. “Of course it’s frustrating but if we have to go with the group here, I’ll go with the group here. I have no problem with that. They have been brilliant for me this season, but it is frustrating. We can’t do the wages as everybody knows. That is a problem but that is the way it is.

“Everybody I spoke to before the season will tell you that the lads you have need a hand, but they have to be ones you bring in to play. There is no point bringing in people who I think will be a squad player or just make the numbers. We can get a load of those. I don’t want to do that. We want ones that can play a part from now until the end of the season and when you got those through the door in January it is a big help to the group already here. At the minute we are not making any headway. Let’s wait and see. There is still a length of time but I won’t bring in just for the sake of it.”

Left back Marc Tierney returned to training on Thursday after missing City’s festive programme with a groin injury and is in contention for a return to the squad. Ritchie De Laet (back) is again ruled out. Lambert revealed he is also monitoring one or two niggles with the rest of his squad with Anthony Pilkington (groin injury) missing the FA Cup third round win over Burnley. Elliott Ward and James Vaughan remain longer term absentees.

“We’ve got a little few things, but we’ll see how we are,” said Lambert. “Wardy will need a couple of games or so to get back into it, but he is training away with no effect. We’ll see how he feels himself. He is training okay at the minute. Vaughan is doing fine as well. He is feeling good at the minute.”