Norwich City will today complete the loan signing of former Ipswich Town striker Alan Lee from Crystal Palace.

NORWICH City will today complete the loan signing of former Ipswich Town striker Alan Lee from Crystal Palace.

Canaries manager Bryan Gunn last night confirmed that he had been keeping track of the 6ft 3in Republic of Ireland international for the past two years.

Gunn will hope the powerful target man can provide the punch which will spearhead City's push away from the relegation zone in the final seven games.

But Lee's welcome at Carrow Road will be tempered among some of the club's hardcore followers by recent memories of his wholehearted commitment to the Ipswich cause. Indeed, Lee was on the scoreboard at Carrow Road last season, getting the first goal as the Tractor Boys opened a 2-0 lead before City fought back to draw 2-2 in their first game under Glenn Roeder.

In all, Lee played 103 first team games for Town, scoring 31 goals before moving on to Crystal Palace last summer. But he has had limited opportunities under Neil Warnock, making only 13 starts and scoring three goals.

This is the not the first time Galway-born Lee has been linked with the Canaries. They first showed an interest in 2003 when he was at Rotherham, where he'd scored 37 goals in 111 appearances.

On that occasion he instead moved to Cardiff in a �850,000 deal.

Wales did not prove a happy stop as, despite playing 86 times, he managed only 10 goals.

Lee, 30, started with Aston Villa but was unable to break through to the senior side, having loan spells with Torquay and Port Vale before having a short spell with Burnley.

Gunn told the official Norwich City website: “Alan brings power and, having watched him myself over the last two years and in games against Norwich City, he's an awkward customer to play against. He's got tenacity, he chases lost causes and he provides a goal threat.

“With the seven games we have left he's very keen to come here and do well. He could have signed for another Championship club, which shows he is committed to coming and playing for us.”

One game Lee may or may not be looking forward to is the derby at Portman Road on April 19, when he will hope to celebrate a Canary goal as vociferously as he did the one he got for Town last season.