WITH the transfer window now open until February 2, Glenn Roeder says it's in the hands of Reading as to whether he will be able welcome Leroy Lita back to Carrow Road.

After the striker scored seven goals during his time with the Canaries, the City boss told First News he would be delighted to see Lita return to Norwich.

"He obviously did exceptoinally well here, he's the type of striker we need and he's proved that," Roeder told Canaries.co.uk. "They're far and few between out there and for the past month we have gone up and down the country looking at all the squads and there aren't too many Leroy Lita's out there. He got to know us, we got to know him and we would have dearly liked to have kept him. He's playing in the Cup tomorrow, and they're going to see what happens this month."

"My personal feelings are they're going to keep him, we've done what we can to retain him here until the end of the season - first of all the player wants to keep his options open and that's what he's told me and he won't sign for anybody in January. 

We have made them a financial offer to retain his services to the end of the season, but that at the moment is of no interest to them. It's a really good offer as well, it's not pennies. At least they know they've got a striker who is match fit and is scoring goals and if they need him he can go back in."

Roeder continued: "Nicky Hammond told me he had a meeting with the manager and he was told he's going to play in the Cup this weekend and they'll see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I know of a couple of Championship clubs who want to buy him, but I'm not sure Reading would want to sell to one of their main teams in opposition for automatic promotion.

"There's a month to go in the window and they might decide in a few weeks time to allow him back out on loan. In one respect we're not in the strongest position because we can't give him back anymore, that 28-day rule would favour Reading to loan him out to someone else if they decide to do that. I wouldn't be surprised if they keep him - if I was Steve Coppell, I'd keep him."