CITY left-back Adam Drury will be missing for a few weeks after tearing his thigh in Tuesday night's victory over Walsall.

The news was announced this morning by City boss Paul Lambert who also confirmed the signing of Stockport left-back Michael Rose on loan until the end of the season. Rose will be available for the Canaries' match with Hartlepool United at Carrow Road tomorrow (3pm).

Lambert expressed his disappointment at the loss of his regular left-back: "He'll be out for a few weeks," said the Norwich Manager. "He's got a slight tear in his thigh at the minute. In my view he's been one of the top performers for us and it's a blow."

With Drury out of action the timing of Rose's acquisition has proved fortunate, but the City boss explained his interest in the Stockport player had proceeded Drury's injury: "When you look at the squad the one position where we never had much cover was left-back.

"Rhoys (Wiggins) was here but has had a stop-start season with injury and Rhoys needed games so it would have been a big ask to have thrown him right in - and I thought with the way it's going at the minute we needed someone who's played a hell of a lot of games in the league, and knows what it's about and Michael Rose I have seen play numerous times."

On Rose he added: "He had a great upbringing at Manchester United and he did great at Stockport, he was a big part of their promotion that's for sure."

Defender Rhoys Wiggins is poised to go to League Two side Bournemouth on a 28-day loan deal - the defender made 13 appearances for the Cherries last season whilst on loan there from Crystal Palace.

Lambert commented: "Hopefully the paperwork will go through and it gets him some games."

IN ACTION: Rhoys Wiggins features against West Ham
for City Reserves

Wiggins is the second Canary this week to go out on loan, Owain Tudur Jones joining Yeovil earlier in the week for a month's stay at Huish Park: "They need games considering where we are in the league, we need everybody. Also it will do the two lads good to go out and play some games. Hopefully the games they play will benefit them and benefit us," he said.

Rose's capture brings the number of new additions this January transfer window to five, and the Scot said he was pleased with his acquisitions: "We've kept the run going and with Zak (Whitbread), Russell (Martin), Anthony (McNamee) and Oli (Johnson) coming in they've done great for us and it's kept us going. So when you look at the bench now you think yes, you're strong in that department and this Club demands success and you have to try and give them it.

"If you look at the bench compared to when we first came in we had a lot of young kids there who need reserve games and have an upbringing before your throwing them into an environment where this Club had to win games."

The City boss was keen to confirm that performances were the key to getting into the team and his new signings had to prove their worth: "All we've tried to do is bring in lads to try and help the current lads who were already here. The group we inherited have been brilliant, absolutely terrific for me, they just needed a bit of confidence going into games and try and win as many games as they could.

"So the group that were here are the ones that have done it and they've gained some help from the lads coming in. If I sign them and they don't perform I'm not going to play them - if you don't perform you don't play."

City will be without top-scorer Grant Holt for the second of three games after his straight red card against Brentford last Saturday, giving the opportunity for young strikers Cody McDonald and Oli Johnson to step in. Johnson played the first 66 minutes against Walsall on Tuesday, replaced by McDonald who came on to score City's 85th-minute winner, latching on to a Wes Hoolahan pass.

And Lambert said the two forwards epitomised the benefits of bringing in young players: "It would be easy to bring in lads that are 30 years old-plus coming down from the Championship. But with these two they are trying to make a career in the game and you've got hunger and enthusiasm which is great. Great for me as I know the lads will go out and they'll give you everything they've got and that's all you can ask for."

After equalling the 25-year-old record last weekend of 10 consecutive home wins on the trot during one season, the City Manager was asked if he was worried about the run coming to an end: "I think the fear of failure drives you on, I think that's always the case the crowd will drive you on.

"I say this every week but they've been absolutely phenomenal. On Tuesday night people have taken a day off work and travelled for three hours, it's incredible. Our fans make the game."

Hartlepool visit Carrow Road tomorrow currently sitting 14th in the League One table, and having ended a run of three defeats on Tuesday with a 1-1 home draw with Gillingham. But Lambert believes the Canaries high-flying position makes them an attractive scalp for teams playing them.

"We're at the top of League One and everyone wants to try and beat us and at home it's no different, everybody wants to beat us," he said.

"At this minute the lads are on top form and it's not just been for two or three games. Can I ask for any more? No. They're the ones that have done it, they're the ones that have turned it around. As I've said if we can get the players and crowd feeding off each other then we'd be right there."

He added: "The crowd have played a major part in what's been happening that's for sure."

Tickets for tomorrow's game with Hartlepool are available by logging on to online ticketing, by calling 0844 826 1902, or by visiting the Carrow Road ticket office or the Canary Store in the Mall, Norwich.