Andrew Greaves: Josh Brownhill gives a different option

It was disappointing to lose at home to a struggling Premier League side like Norwich but if someone had given me the choice of six league points or a win in the cup I’d have bitten their hand off at the points.

One thing I think the FA Cup defeat to the Canaries does bring into sharp focus is that the squad is in desperate need of a freshen up.

The fringe players who came into the side really didn’t do enough to warrant Sean Dyche having a rethink of his team for Sunday against Arsenal.

I know form comes with a run of games but it’s clearly just not working out for some of the lads who are limited to the odd 10 minutes here and there. Dyche says this is the most competitive squad he’s had and while I don’t doubt that, there’s still room for it to be even more competitive and more immediately so.

I’ve no doubt that the fringe players are good enough for a run in the first team but their performances when given a chance to impress they just don’t.

As I write this, Bristol City captain Josh Brownhill is heading north in a part-swap/part-cash deal which includes Nahki Wells going the other way.

Wells has been in great form for QPR this season and I think it’s a cracking bit of business.

He’s been another player who has struggled for games at Turf Moor but he’s clearly got the measure of the Championship defences and I’m sure he’ll be a big success down in the West Country.

Brownhill’s not a player I know an awful lot about but I know a few City fans who certainly think he has what it takes to make it in the Premier League.

The centre of the park is where we lack a bit of creativity at times and Brownhill coming in will give us a different option in there.

He also has a knack of getting a few goals from distance which is an area we don’t score from enough in my view.

The Arsenal game on Sunday might be too soon – will he be ‘Dyche fit’? – but I’m sure he’ll have a role to play between now and May.