Canaries boss window shopping

By Derek Davis

NIGEL Worthington was at Portman Road on Saturday doing some window shopping ready for the January sales.

The Norwich City manager is after a goal-getter to keep his supporters happy to try to ensure Premiership survival.

Assuming Worthington was not running the rule over Preston's top scorer Richard Cresswell or their on-loan striker Guylain Ndumbu- Nsungu, he had the chance to see all four Town strikers.

Scorers Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi played 90 minutes, while Dean Bowditch went on as a 66th minute substitute for Jim Magilton. He was followed 11 minutes later by Pablo Counago when Fabian Wilnis injured a hamstring.

Norwich would face a bidding war for Bent with a number of Premiership clubs, including Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City, especially keen on the England Under 21 striker and it is unlikely they could stretch to the £5m plus that would be needed.

Town's top-scorer Shefki Kuqi would be within his price range after he was offered as a free transfer to Korean and German clubs in the summer but refused to talk to them.

Dean Bowditch is being tracked by Liverpool but has made it clear he does not want to be a bit part player anywhere else and could be too expensive and a little inexperienced for what Norwich need right now.

Pablo Counago is the best bet with Blues boss Joe Royle desperate to ship him out and off the wage bill. Counago has 33 goals in just over 100 Town appearances but never found the net in the Premiership.

The Spaniard is unlikely to be kept beyond the end of his contract in the summer anyway and may relish an opportunity to perform in the top flight again - even if it were just for five months.

The Canaries have managed just nine league goals in 10 Premiership games but do have a chance to climb off bottom place tonight when they take on Manchester City.