Lupoli's roving role puts him on the map with Norwich hoping to reap the benefits

The former Arsenal youngster takes aim from the halfway line and misses - as does everyone else taking part, including manager Glenn Roeder.

It is a good omen for Norwich fans - after all, Lupoli has been brought on a season-long loan from Fiorentina to stick the ball in the net.

Wandering star: Lupoli is at his fourth club in four years after falling short at Arsenal

He has already done so twice, coming off the bench to rescue a point against Cardiff last month.

For the second season in a row, Roeder has exploited the loan system to the full.

Eight players have been brought to Carrow Road in a bid to propel the Norfolk side to the play-offs, the policy having helped preserve their Championship status in the previous campaign.

With funds scarce - majority shareholders Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn-Jones have recently pumped £2million of their own money into the club - Roeder makes no apology for using his contacts to bring in players Norwich simply could not afford to buy.

And while fans may question the benefit of signing players who will head off into the sunset next summer, it comes as no surprisethat 22-year-old Lupoli is as big a fan of the loan system as his boss.

'Young players need to play and clubs like Arsenal and Fiorentina loan us out to give us the opportunity to improve and play first-team football,' he said.

'I don't think it is unfair, it just depends on the policy of the club and whether they want to go down that route.'

Two seasons ago Lupoli helped Derby to promotion while on loan. He then declined the opportunity to extend his contract at Arsenal, opting to return to his native Italy by signing for Fiorentina.

He failed to find first-team football there, prompting a short-term move to Serie B side Treviso, before packing his bags again this summer.

Does he regret leaving Arsenal? 'I thought long and hard about returning to Italy, but maybe I made my decision too early,' he admitted.

'My contract was up in June but by February I had already signed with Fiorentina. I should have waited for the season to end before making up my mind.'

Lupoli scored 11 goals for Derby but didn't figure in the play-off final defeat of West Bromwich.

'In the last couple of months there were a few arguments between me and manager Billy Davies about me signing for Fiorentina,' said Lupoli wistfully.

'He said my mind was in Italy, that he had to build up the team for next season and I wasn't going to be there.'

Such disappointments were tough for a player accustomed to smashing Italian youth and reserve team scoring records prior to his move to Arsenal at 17.

He has also seen former Arsenal academy teammates Gael Clichy and Nicklas Bendtner graduating to the first team or, in the case of Mathieu Flamini, earning a lucrative move.

Nine appearances, just one in the Premier League as a substitute, in two seasons at Arsenal before his loan move to Derby were as good as it got for Lupoli.

Not that he displays a hint of jealously. 'They are very good players so they deserve to play at the highest level,' said Lupoli.

'I wasn't ready to make the big step and play regularly in Arsenal's first team. That is why I went to Derby.

'I had played regularly with Bendtner, Flamini and Clichy in the reserves. We were all together and good friends and I wish them luck. I still watch them every week and my aim is to get to their level.

'You have very difficult moments when you change teams four times in four seasons, but if I want to get to the Premier League, Serie A or La Liga, I have to find the right place to make a name for myself.'

It may be for one season only, but Norwich fans are crossing their fingers that the place turns out to be Carrow Road.