Matthew Bates signed for Norwich City on loan from Middlesbrough on 30th January 2008 until the end of the 2007/8 season

Bates is a product of the Middlesbrough youth system and first appeared for the club in 2004. He signed a four-and-a-half year deal in January 2005 just weeks after making his Premiership debut. Bates also made five appearances in Boro's run to the Uefa Cup final the following season and has made a total of 32 appearances for the Teesiders.

He has spent loan spells at Darlington and Ipswich, the latter causing contraversy when in November 2006, his challenge sent Luke Chadwick, on his City debut, careering into the advertising hoardings where he was left with a knee injury that took him out for much of the season. Ironically, Bates' second game for Ipswich saw him pick up a knee ligament injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. The 21-year-old made his first appearance since injury for the reserves last month. Boro manager Gareth Southgate said: “Matthew has coped well, but it's a long and lonely road no matter how much support you are given from the physio and the other players and staff.Now Matthew is training with no problems from the knee, and we are delighted for him. It will be like starting again for Matthew. But we know from what we have seen previously that he is a good young player, and we will give him time to get back to a good level. It's important that he makes a full recovery, but it's good to see him back to the point where he can play part of a game.”

Bates made his Norwich debut in the 1-0 win over Preston. This was followed by appearances in the 2-1 win at Cardiff and the 1-1 draw at Hull. However in the latter, he was substituted on 58minutes after injuring his knee. He returned to Boro' after a scan early on Wednesday confirmed “more than minor damage”. Glenn Roeder said “The young lad has been incredibly unlucky. The staff and the players all feel for him and we are keeping our fingers crossed that he makes a full recovery.