Norwich City snap up West Bromwich Albion defender on loan
Football League Championship outfit have snapped up Leon Barnett from English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on a temporary basis. The defender has joined on a loan deal until January 4.
The 24-year-old has been recruited by manager Paul Lambert to cover for the injured centre-backs Michael Nelson and Zak Whitebread. Nelson, 30, suffered damage to his ankle ligaments against Swansea in the Championship last weekend and Whitebread has been out of action since sustaining a calf injury over the summer.
'Quality player'
Lambert told his club’s official website that: "With Michael being out for a few weeks now we felt it was the right thing to bring someone in to strengthen in that area and Leon was someone we tried to bring in last year. He's a quality player who has played Premier League football as well as having solid experience at Championship level, so I'm delighted we've been able to bring him in. He's here until January so he will provide competition for places when Michael and Zak are fit again, which I think you've got to have."
The versatile Barnett can play anywhere in defence as well as in central midfield, providing cover for a variety of positions.
He will not be able to feature for Norwich in the League Cup after playing in West Brom’s 2-0 win in the competition away to Leyton Orient on Tuesday. There is also no option in the contract which will allow his parent club to recall him during his loan spell.
Barnett joined West Brom in 2007 from Luton Town for a fee of £2.5m and has gone on to make 55 appearances for the club and has netted three goals across all competitions. The 6ft 1in defender was farmed out on loan to Coventry City last season, where he made 20 appearances.
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