Manchester City's young
Welsh striker Ched Evans joined Norwich City on loan on 21st November
2007 until 1st January 2008. He becomes Glenn
Roeder's fourth loan signing since taking over as City manager
Evans began his playing career in Rhyl and was spotted by highly
respected football scout John Reardon. Ched spent several years
scoring many goals at Chester City's youth set up before it folded
In 2000, Evans went on trial to Manchester United after impressing
a scout that spotted Evans in a game in North Wales. After a injury-fraught
two years at the club, Evans left United and joined rivals Manchester
City.
In the 2006-07 season, Evans scored 16 goals in 23 starts for
City at Academy level, and a further six in 10 starts in the Premier
Reserve League, as well as gaining his first Wales U21 cap
In September 2007, Evans came off the bench to make his senior
debut in Citys 1-0 Carling Cup victory against Norwich.
The striker had scored a hat-trick for the reserves at Sunderland
the week before and a brace against Bury.
The day before his signing for the Canaries, Ched scored a hat-trick
for Wales Under-21s in a 4-2 victory over their French counterparts
Evans made his debut for the Canaries the following week when
he came on as a substitute in the 3-1 victory over Blackpool.
His first goal for the club came just 2 minutes into his first
start in the 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on 4th December
2007. Ched then scored what turned out to be a winning goal after
only 10 minutes in Norwich's 1-0 win over Sheffield United at
Carrow Road on 8th December 2007
He returned to Manchester City on 1st January 2008 having made
9 appearances for the Canaries, scoring twice
Although it looked that Ched would stay at Eastlands to fight
for a first team appearance, Glenn Roeder managed to persuade
Man City boss Sven Goran Eriksson on 10th January 2008 to loan
out Ched again until 26th February 2008, with Man City able to
recall him after 6th February. He proved his worth almost immediately
scoring in Norwich's 3-1 win at Barnsley that ended the Tyke's
twelve game unbeaten home run.
On 31st January 2008, Norwich secured an extension to Ched's
loan that means he will stay at Carrow Road until the end of the
2007/8 season
Ched was called up to the full Welsh squad in May 2008 for the
friendly double-header with Iceland and the Netherlands. He was
one of 10 players aged 21 or under in the 35-man Welsh squad.
Other newcomers included West Ham midfielder Jack Collison, Cardiff's
Aaron Ramsey and Bournemouth's Sam Vokes. Ched indeed made his
debut in the clash with Iceland, coming on as a 41st minute substitute
for Carl Fletcher and then scoring the only goal of the game three
minutes later. Folloiwng the goal, he was linked with a £1million
move to Cardiff City
LINK:
CHED EVANS' entry on Wikipedia