Another Norwich City exit likely given Jaden Warner's Notts County spell | OneFootball

Norwich City will have kept a close eye on young defender Jaden Warner as he nears the end of his first professional loan spell away from Carrow Road.

The 21-year-old was the subject of interest during the January transfer window, with Stockport County registering their desire to sign the Canaries defender, but instead he favoured a move to Notts County, continuing the connection between the two clubs, having sent goalkeeper, Archie Mair, on loan to the East Midlands club for their National League triumph in which he saved two penalties in the final against Chesterfield.

It looked the perfect move for Warner, who had impressed in Norwich's academy, with the Magpies' possession-based brand of football well suited to the skills of the central defender.

Since arriving at Meadow Lane at the start of the year, it is fair to say Warner's time at the club has been far from settled, not helped by the transitional period having seen Luke Williams swap League Two for a return to Swansea City in January.

The Canaries loanee would feature for new head coach, Stuart Maynard, in his second game in charge away to Mansfield Town, playing the entirety of the defeat to their Midlands rivals, impressing Magpies fans in the process.

But Notts' capitulation from promotion-chasers to mid-table has been quite extraordinary, and unfortunately, the defenders within the team have been questioned about the amount and the manner in which goals have been conceded since the turn of the year.

This season, County are among the top scorers in the division, but also hold the worst defensive record in League Two, becoming the first side since Peterborough United to both score and concede 75 goals in the top four tiers this century.

Warner has been part of just two wins from his 10 appearances in Notts colours, conceding 22 goals in that time. While it is not down to the individual and rather a collective to help address the issue. The defender has not started a match since the end of last month and has failed to feature in the last three fixtures, with the club confirming he missed the defeat to Stockport County through illness on Tuesday evening.

His arrival at the club was one that excited Notts fans given the need for extra defensive cover following a positive start to the season, but Warner has failed to cement a place in the starting side, albeit starting more games than he has been on the bench.

Warner has shown his quality with the ball at his feet and the physicality of League Two lends itself to the way in which he likes to operate as a central defender.

Sometimes his inexperience has been taken advantage of by the more seasoned professionals in the division, but that is bound to happen given his age and where he is at during his career.

The highly-rated defender has been with the club since 2014, signing his first professional contract with the club four years ago.

His performances were rewarded again the following year, agreeing to another contract that will keep him at the club until the end of next season, meaning it is likely another loan move is on the cards for the 21-year-old.

Warner has showcased in his early career the endless amount of talent he possesses. He caught the attention of many during his display against Fulham where he was simply faultless against Premier League opposition in the Carabao Cup back in September.

He has also had Championship experience, having played twice against Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City earlier in the season and putting in solid displays once more.

Still early in his development as a professional footballer and with his performances at Notts speaking to a player that needs a run of games below Championship level to continue his development, it seems likely that Norwich will be keen to send him back out on loan to allow Warner to gather those experiences of playing in the lower tiers, which may potentially result in a new deal at Carrow Road next year.

The 21-year-old has shown he has the talent and that has been slighlty unearthed at Meadow Lane, but his time in the East Midlands seems to have only scratched the surface of the potential at his talented feet.