Norwich City chief David McNally has revealed they came close to making a big name signing last month.

McNally revealed yesterday they had also targeted a creative midfielder on loan in a bid to address City's chronic goal output.

"We were very close to bringing in a creative midfielder," he said. "We were in the market for a number 10 or someone to play just off a striker and we were very close to taking someone on loan from a huge club. What it needed was for one of their targets to come in and then it would have happened, until the end of the season.

"It would have made a huge difference in that area but the good news is Jon [Howson] is close to being back with us after injury and he is someone we have missed who has played in that part of the pitch and we have missed him. Of course Wes [Hoolahan] is also back in the fold so we have two players now available that were not at the start of January, although Jonny might take a while fitness-wise to get fully up to speed."