Norwich City prospect Abu Kamara is unlikely to return to Carrow Road in January despite a positive start to life at loan club Portsmouth.
The Canaries have an option to recall the attacker in the next transfer window, having loaned Kamara to the south coast side for the season last summer.
New sporting director Ben Knapper is keen to lower the age profile of David Wagner’s first-team squad, with the German having fielded the oldest starting line-up in the Championship earlier this term.
Knapper and soon-to-be joint minority shareholder Mark Attanasio have discussed the possibility of youthful recruits arriving at the club in the new year, but Pompey head coach John Mousinho doesn’t expect Kamara to be part of that.
He told The News: “[A January recall clause] is standard, but we’ve spoken to Norwich and we’d be very surprised if anything came of that. They are really happy with him here.
“I think it (staying at Portsmouth) is the best thing for Abu. What we’ve seen since he came into the building is just a massive amount of improvement.
“That’s the real positive for us and Norwich. We want to send a player back in the summer who is ready to compete in the Championship.
“If we can keep building upon that it’s going to be beneficial for them as well as us.”
The 20-year-old has made six goal contributions so far for Mousinho’s side, starting 15 of their 20 League One games as they’ve dominated the division.
Kamara has been linked to top-flight clubs including the Bundesliga’s Freiburg and Premier League Brentford in that time, having shone throughout his time in City’s academy.
He limped off with an ankle injury in Portsmouth’s 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Monday, but his temporary boss hopes that’s just a minor knock.
“He just rolled his ankle,” Mousinho told Sky Sports. “I think there was a bit of contact there and he’s rolled his ankle.
“He can put his wait through it, he’s got an ice bag on it and it’s one of those we’re going to look at tomorrow and see how it settles down, but hopefully he’s fine.”
