NORWICH City could be in line to make a bid for Colchester United target man, Clive Platt.Canaries boss Bryan Gunn is desperate to sign a tall striker in time for the start of the new season, and the 31-year-old has already proved to be an effective front-man in League One.

Carl Marston

By Carl Marston

NORWICH City could be in line to make a bid for Colchester United target man, Clive Platt.

Canaries boss Bryan Gunn is desperate to sign a tall striker in time for the start of the new season, and the 31-year-old has already proved to be an effective front-man in League One.

Furthermore, Colchester United are believed to be willing to sell Platt, if the right offer comes along, just as they were prepared to allow leading scorer Mark Yeates to sign for Middlesbrough for �500,000 a fortnight ago.

Gunn has so far failed in his attempts to sign ex-Ipswich Town striker Alan Lee from Crystal Palace, and also Liam Dickinson from Derby County.

The Canaries, who are currently on a pre-season tour of Scotland, have ex-Leeds striker Michael Bridges and former Rangers front-man Chris Craig on trial with them.

Platt signed a new contract with the U's last summer, having originally arrived at the Essex club for a then-club record fee of �300,000 two years ago.

The ex-Walsall trainee netted 10 goals in 43 league appearances in League One last season, despite the lack of a regular partner up front. At various times, he played alongside Steven Gillespie, Scott Vernon, Jamie Guy, Sam Williams, Jermaine Easter, Mark Yeates and Karl Hawley.

The previous campaign, former MK Dons striker Platt scored eight goals in the Championship in the U's relegation season, when he was in harness with current Ipswich striker Kevin Lisbie.

Ironically, U's boss Paul Lambert is actually trying to strengthen his strike-force. Yeates and Platt were the leading scorers last season, so the Scotsman would surely be loathe to see both of them go, without any suitable replacements lined up.

Steven Gillespie was dogged by injuries last season, playing just one full game, so a question mark remains over his long-term fitness. In addition to Platt, the only other senior strikers at the club, Jamie Guy and Scott Vernon, have failed to establish themselves under Lambert.

Last week, it was also revealed that Norwich were tracking U's out-of-favour full-back, Phil Ifil.

Meanwhile, former Colchester loanee striker, Jermaine Easter, left Plymouth to sign for MK Dons on a two-year deal yesterday, for an undisclosed fee.